Who are the Asháninka?
We mention the Asháninka a lot on our website and social media – You might be wondering who they are. Luckily for you, we have created this handy blog that will give you an introduction to the Asháninka people and their culture.
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The Asháninka people, a proud indigenous group that has inhabited the Amazonian rainforest of Peru for centuries, boasts a rich cultural heritage and an intimate relationship with their environment. Their deep connection to the land and the forest forms the backbone of their way of life and serves as a source of sustenance for food, medicine, and building materials.
The forest also holds a spiritual significance for the Asháninka people, who believe it to be the abode of powerful spirits and pay homage to the land through their spiritual practices that are integral to their daily lives.
Their culture is marked by a vibrant tradition of storytelling and music, which serve as a means of transmitting their history and customs from generation to generation. These tales and songs often revolve around elements of the natural world and provide the Asháninka people with a powerful connection to their environment.
In recent times, the Asháninka communities have been grappling with various challenges that threaten their way of life and their precious environment. The rampant expansion of the logging and oil industries, along with illegal mining and drug trafficking, have had a harmful impact on the Asháninka people and their land. Despite these obstacles, the communities have rallied together to protect their land, culture, and heritage.
To read more about the victories of the Ashaninka in the fight to protect their land, check out this blog post.
Community-led development
Community-based organizations such as C.A.R.E and C.A.R.T have emerged as a force for advocacy, working towards securing the rights of their people and preserving their environment. Additionally, the Asháninka people have actively participated in promoting sustainable development and conservation initiatives in the region. Recognizing the importance of preserving the Asháninka people and their unique way of life, the Peruvian government has taken steps to safeguard their interests, although this is often criticized as not enough. Protected areas have been established in the region, and the government has collaborated with the Asháninka people to develop sustainable development projects aimed at promoting their welfare and preserving their environment.
Our Partners
We work directly with C.A.R.T and C.A.R.E to ensure that our impact goes directly to the communities we support.
We spoke with Fabian, the leader of C.A.R.T, about how the Amazon Canoe Challenge can help support the Ashaninka communities along the Ene & Tambo rivers:
We are referred to as the guardians of the forest many times but what we also want is educational and economic development for our brothers and sisters. Sustainable tourism is a great way for us to help achieve our goals, which helps us better protect our land”
Fabian – Leader of C.A.R.T
Creating impact through adventure
Through the Amazon Canoe Challenge, we aim to help support the Ashaninka communities through donations, equipment and traning. We use locally sourced goods and services as much as possible during the challenge and employ support crew directly from the communities.
Check out the Amazon Canoe Challenge to learn more.
