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The Tribal Stories Behind Our Rapé

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Have you ever wondered where your rapé comes from, who makes it, and what are the stories behind it? With each tribe, there is history to be discovered as well as stories to be told. Although there are differences, these tribes have many things in common, similar values and ways of understanding and living their life. Perhaps, by learning something about the people from the rainforest, you can be inspired to implement a part of their knowledge and wisdom into your daily life.

 

Tribes from the Amazon Forest

Imagine yourself taking a break from your modern life and disappearing into the jungle, learning about different tribes, their culture, rituals, ceremonies, and way of life. Their understanding of the world is so vastly different from anything you have ever experienced, and you may be blown away by their wisdom, grace, and enchanting rituals and practices that can take time to fully understand. Whether you agree with their way of living and understanding this world or not, one thing is clear – they have mastered a way to live in harmony with nature. Let’s take a deeper dive into their teachings, history, and traditions.

 

Message From the Indigenous People of the Rainforest

Amazonian tribes

 

Whether it’s a tribe of Apurina, Huni Kuin, Kuntanawa, Nukini, Puyanawa, Shawandawa, or Yawanawa, the Indigenous people of the rainforest have certain things and values in common. All these tribes have learned to live in harmony with nature, the forest, its plants and animals, air, water, ground, and they have practiced this way of life for hundreds of years. If we have one thing to learn from Indigenous people of the Amazonian Forest, it’s that everything in this world is connected. They believe that one action caused by man in one place will create an effect in another. They say we have to learn how to live in harmony with the planet, take care of our home, and re-establish a balance in the world. The message from these tribes is one and the same: “Nature does not need us. We need nature. We are part of it, and we have to protect it. Without us, it will flourish. But without it, we will die.” It’s as simple as that, and these tribes truly live by their word. They believe that everything in nature has to be asked permission for, whether it’s hunting, harvesting, taking water or any resources for that matter. We cannot just deplete nature, tear it down, and expect that it will keep sustaining us. The people from Amazonian tribes send us a message that even though the great Amazonian Forest is their home, it is also the lungs of our planet, and therefore, of importance to all humanity. Each one of those tribes fight hard to preserve the forest while it is being torn down faster than it can be renewed. Their territories are often not acknowledged by the government institutions; therefore, they have little to no protection of their lands. Only with the help of other communities, activists, and in collaboration with the outside world, it has been possible to begin the process of fighting for their rights and protection and renewal of the Amazonian Forest. It is a long and ongoing battle.

 

Amazonian Tribe History

amazonian tribe history

 

During Amazonian tribe history, many of these tribes suffered hardships after the first contact with the outside world that happened in the 18th and 19th centuries. Diseases they’ve never encountered before spread throughout their villages, killing hundreds of people. Those who survived were forced to participate as slaves in natural rubber extraction from the rubber trees of the forest which largely happened between 1879 and 1912. Thousands of Indigenous men, women, and children died while subjected to this work, or were murdered by overseers when they failed to deliver their quota of latex—or when they rebelled. This traumatic part of their history almost led many tribes to extinction. While enslaved, they were banned from expressing any trace of their culture. Once slavery was over, and they were free to return to their lives, some tribes like Puyanawa could barely be revived as there was almost no memory left of their traditions, rituals, or ceremonies. There were very few people left who could still speak the language. A lot of individual and community effort has been put into re-establishing their legacy by remembering and practising their old traditions and coming together as tribes to regain their culture, identity, and sense of belonging.

 

Amazonian Tribes and Their Sacred Medicines

A vital part of Amazonian tribe culture is their sacred plants, like Ayahuasca, rapé, and many others. Practising their rituals and ceremonies has been a vital part of cultural reconnection and self-consciousness. Prayers, healing ceremonies, and immersion within the world of certain plants while maintaining a strict diet are their way of life. When that was taken from them, their culture and traditions began to die, and ancient wisdom and knowledge were almost forgotten and lost. It took many tribes coming together to learn from each other and revive their ancient knowledge of sacred plants that have been at the centre of their strength, beliefs, and religious rituals.

 

Ayahuasca - Nature's Visionary Elixir

tribes from the rainforest

 

The psychedelic drink Ayahuasca is being ingested to heal physical ailments as well as for gaining more self-awareness, insight, and exploring spiritual realms of existence. Ayahuasca ceremonies are being led by experienced shamans who have gained recognition and respect within their tribe. A shaman or ‘curandero’, who is a type of healer, will boil the P. viridis leaves and crushed B. caapi stalks in water. Once the mixture reduces, the shaman will remove the water and add more plant material to form a very concentrated tea. They will then allow the tea to cool before straining it. Ayahuasca ceremonies typically take place at night. Participants will notice the tea’s psychedelic effects within 1 hour, and these effects can last for up to 6 hours. Ayahuasca is seen as a great plant teacher that will deliver messages and visions that are important not only for the individual, but also for the whole tribe, and often the planet and humanity itself. Tribal leaders in recent years are communicating these messages to the outside world to listen.

 

Rapé - Beyond an Earthly Blend

sacred tribal medicines

 

The sacred shamanic medicine known as rapé – pronounced ha-PAY – has been used by tribal cultures in the Amazonian region for ritual, medicinal and recreational purposes for thousands of years. Rapé is considered to be one of many sacred medicines from the Amazon that are used both to overcome physical, psychological and emotional blocks as well as gain tremendous insight into other, subtler worlds. Rapé can also induce visions, offer a burst of energy, and enhance a sense of clarity and focus. Given that there are myriad medicinal plants you can blend into rapé, there are many various rapé recipes in existence - and these recipes are often closely guarded by the tribes as secrets. Today, indigenous tribes in the Amazon continue to use rapé in all aspects of life, from formal ritual use in rites of puberty, initiation, festivals, social gatherings, healing ceremonies, hunting, or simply experiencing this sacred blend of plants to connect with nature.

 

To learn from the Indigenous people of the rainforest, we have established close relationships with certain members of the tribes of Apurina, Huni Kuin, Kuntanawa, Nukini, Puyanawa, Shawandawa, and Yawanawa, and we are honoured to bring this sacred medicine of rapé to people of all walks of life all over the planet. We offer a great selection of different blends that come from many different Amazonian tribes. While ayahuasca is something you must go to the jungle to experience, rapé can be accessible anywhere and experienced in your own home. Are you ready to experience it? Explore our selection of rapé here.

 
Posted in: Shamanism