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EspañolIndigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation |
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Indigenous people in voluntary isolation are those groups of Amazonian indigenous peoples who have opted to remain isolated from the national society. To date, 14 ethno-linguistic groups living in voluntary isolation have been detected in Peru. They include the Kugapakori, Nanti, Kirineri, Asháninka and Poyenitzare, belonging to the Arahuaca linguistic family, and the Chitonahua, Maxonahua, Morunahua, Marinahua and Sharanahua, of the Pano linguistic family. The number of isolated indigenous people has been estimated anywhere between 5,000 and 10,000 people, living in the Apurímac, Cusco, Huanuco, Loreto, Madre de Dios and Ucayali regions. These groups as extremely vulnerable, given the risks they run if they come into contact with outsiders, including contagious diseases and mortal epidemics. In addition, their way of life removed from civilization is constantly threatened by invasions of their lands for the exploration and exploitation of oil, wood and gold. One of the protection strategies for these groups has been the creation of territorial reserves, areas demarcated and protected to guarantee space for these indigenous peoples to maintain their traditional ways of life and ensure their wellbeing and health. There are five territorial reserves in Peru for isolated indigenous peoples, Kugapakori-Nahua, Madre de Dios, Mashco Piro, Murunahua and Isconahua, which cover 2,812,000 hectares. Unfortunately, the bureaucratic process for creating these reserves has become exceedingly complicated, making it difficult for new ones to be designated. There are also other interests competing for the same areas that could be declared reserves, including mining, hydrocarbons and logging. These are some of the reasons why proposed reserves are still pending after a decade, which is the case of the Cacataibo Territorial Reserve. The Cacataibos living in voluntary isolation belong to the Cacataibo ethnic group and Pano ethno-linguistic group, one of the most numerous in South America. The Aguaytía, Sungaruyacu and San Alejandro river basins, located in the Huánuco and Ucayali regions, are home to the Cacataibos. Around 7,200 Cacataibos live in indigenous communities, while an undetermined number remain in isolation. The Native Federation of Cacataibo Communities (FENACOCA) and the Institute of the Commons have worked together to identify transit areas used by the isolated groups. The information on meetings, sightings and/or evidence of isolated groups was obtained through the testimonies form people in indigenous communities and other residents. So far, 109 testimonies of sights have been gathered in the river basins mentioned above and the Pisqui River basin, which the isolated Cacataibos used to move through the Cordillera Azul National Park and surrounding areas. The areas of sightings and contact with isolated indigenous peoples have been georeferenced and duly located on maps. In 2005, FENACOCA and the IBC presented a proposal for the creation of two Cacataibo Territorial Reserves, one at the headwaters of the Aguaytía, Zungaruyacu and San Alejandro rivers, and the other at the headwaters of the Pisqui River (between the boundaries of the Cordillera Azul National Park and native communities). The North Territorial Reserve would cover an area between the Cordillera Azul National Park, the boundaries of the Santa Rosa and Yamino native communities and the boundaries of the areas that are in the process of being titled in the native communities Nuevo Edén and La Cumbre. The South Territorial Reserve would cover the area to the southeast of the requested extension of the Puerto Azul native community. The North Territorial Reserve is 62,919 hectares and the South Territorial Reserve is 81,866 hectares. In addition, an agreement was reached with INRENA and CIMA (the author of the park’s master plan) to create a strictly protected covering 221,000 hectares, which corresponds to Article 91 of the Natural Protected Areas Law, to establish precautionary measures for isolated indigenous peoples. Please see the map on the adjoining page for more information on the location of the proposed reserves and the transit zone for Cacataibos living in voluntary isolation. Some important moments in the defense of the Cacataibos living in isolation
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