Help us feed the Q’ero and Shipibo tribes of Peru

Armando Muñoz, Peruvian-born and as the founder of IAPICC (The International Association for the Preservation of Indigenous and Contemporary Cultures) is raising funds on behalf of the Q'eros communities of Charcapata and Colpacocho and the Shipibo-Conibo tribe of Nueva Betania in the Pucallpa jungles of Peru, that he has been working with for more than 20 years.

These communities have a strong tribal identity and retain many of their ancient traditions, living far away from modern towns and cities. They travel into cities to replenish food stocks that cannot be found or grown in the harsh climates they live in, as well as to trade some of their most valuable assets, their cloths. Their cloths and textiles have become sought after commodities by tourists and collectors all over the world, carrying a message in each design thought to leave an imprint on the subconscious.

Due to the lockdown in Peru as well as a Dengue Fever outbreak, more than a 100 families have begun to feel the loss of income that used to cover their communities' basic needs, which includes the funds for food to feed the community and to feed the school children at their local schools. As these communities are the last of their kind and precious to the heritage of Peru, they have been advised to close down and no travel is permitted in or out. Community leaders have contacted us and they have expressed their plight.

Please help us raise money that can go towards purchasing food and basic medicines and distributing it to these communities. We are in direct contact with the respective community leaders and they will ensure the collecting and delivery of the goods bought locally by our team on the ground.

1. Money raised during this campaign will first go to buy and send food and medicinal supplies to the Q'ero communities and the jungle village of Nueva Betania, where apart from Covid-19 scares there is also an outbreak of Dengue fever that they are trying to contain.

2. Secondly we will use any extra funds to purchase the cloths and textiles that now have no buyers as tourism is on hold in most parts of the world. We aim to launch an online exhibition where we can bring the communities, their textiles and buyers together and so ensure a sustained economy for them in these uncertain times ahead.

These communities are the keepers of ancient traditions and wisdoms that bring insight into living a harmonious existence with their environment. Traditions that they are only able to uphold because they mostly resist the call of modern life and keep their wisdom alive by living on their ancestral lands and passing their indigenous knowledge on to the next generation.

Knowing that many countries face similar issues, we appreciate your kindness in these uncertain times towards these communities who for some may even have touched their lives in a personal way with the projects we have had with them.

UPDATE:

Feed the Tribes has, thanks to you, been able to within two days of starting this campaign deliver some of the necessary medicine to Nuevo Betania to treat those in the community with Dengue Fever. Much needed food supplies have also been delivered in the jungle communities and we are busy establishing a small pharmacy in the hands of a local nurse. We are raising more funds for this. Covid-19 has unfortunately now hit some communities and we are collecting the necessary medicines for treatment from Lima to be sent to the jungle communities. Some funds to buy food has been delivered to Q'ero leaders in Cusco and we will update you as we go along.

Thank you for all that you have done, do, and continue to do.

Armando and Melisa

IAPICC

The International Association for the Preservation of Indigenous and Contemporary Cultures

https://mailchi.mp/3f868121ced4/iapicc