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Goshen College

Tragic fire at Shipibo community we visited in Cantagallo

November 4, 2016

Early this morning a massive fire started in this shantytown that we visited about a month ago.  About 300 homes burned down and an estimated 2,000 people are homeless now.  We heard that the school we had visited did not burn down, fortunately.

The entry from our visit and the pictures are reproduced below.  Please keep the community of Cantagallo in your prayers.

Monday, Oct. 3

Tim walks in front of one of the neighborhood's many murals.
Tim in front of one of the neighborhood’s many murals.

In the center of very urban Lima we visited Cantagallo, a tiny part of the Amazon jungle that lives in the hearts of a few hundred indigenous Shipibo people, from the far eastern side of Peru, who have settled here.  Their language – Shipibo – is one of about 50 indigenous dialects spoken by various Amazon tribes.

So that their children grow up identifying themselves as Shipibo — knowing the Shipibo language, vision of the universe, culture, and medicinal plants from the Amazon – they started their own school.  We visited the school, spent time hearing the children explain aspects of Shipibo culture, walked through the shantytown where the community lives, heard from a missionary to the Shipibo jungle community, and bought Shipibo crafts.

Their dedication to make their lush Amazon culture flower in the center of an urban desert taught us all a lesson about the importance of culture.  Hearing that depression is almost unknown in the Shipibo community, despite the living conditions of their shantytown, also made an impression on everyone.

Our visit to a bilingual Spanish – Shipiba classroom.
Brad with some of the curious students.
The national anthem of Peru in both Shipiba and Spanish.
A teacher explains the Shipiba world view taught at the school.
John learns from a student how to make Shipiba designs.
Our traditional Shipiba lunch: Juane – a “tamal” of rice and chicken, and tacachito – plantain grilled, mashed and mixed with pork.
Our tour of the Shipiba neighborhood.
Tim in front of one of the neighborhood’s many murals.
At the end of the visit students shopped for Shipiba handicrafts.
Achieng tries on a necklace made from fish scales and other traditional materials form the jungle.