Once in a hundred years in the Amazonic Triangle

September 11, 2012

Beatriz Pizano delivers her report from the Amazon jungle in this short photo essay, taken this past August. Pizano participated in a magical event: for the first time in a hundred years, the Ticuna of Puerto Nariño have openly held a traditional ceremony  where three year olds are introduced to The Dance of the Spirits, and a girl’s ears are pierced.  Until now, missionary Evangelists had declared this rite of passage to be diabolical and heretical.

A group of artists from Colombia and Canada participated in this event as part the first phase of development of an artistic exchange between the two countries called Yako Sumayaska (Enchanted Water) led by Floresmiro Rodríguez Mazabel.  Pizano travelled with the talented percussionist Brandon Valdivia as part of the Canadian team.  Jorge Juan Reyes, one of the participants from our first international youth exchange in 2010 joined us on this trip.

The day of the ceremony.  Inside the Maloca, the Spiritual House…I felt complete.

Swimming with grey and pink dolphins.  The Amazon has no limits.

Zarin with her Abuela Alba Lucía the day before the big ceremony.

Zarin with drums.

Oh, monkeys!  This beautiful one was rescued from abuse by a generous soul.

The highway…the sounds, the birds, the plants and the inevitable jokes about the killer Anaconda.  ¨Thanks Spielberg¨!

Zarin after the piercing eating with her artist parents Ismenia Ahue Cuellar and Floresmiro Rodriguez Mazabel.

Trying to take it all in.

The dance with the shell of the turtle.

The community dances around the Maloca with Zarin after initiation.

The character of the Colibrí, the Hummingbird, enters the party.  He means business!

During the week a Colombian documentary crew took footage of the event.  Here, film-maker Felipe is giving a workshop in how to make a film with the kids from the community.

A vision painted by a Shaman.

The eagle of the South flirts with us.

Beautiful and talented Cantora (singer)  Ticuna, Alicia.

A woman said to me:  the first time you go you’re overwhelmed.  After the second time you never want to stop going back.  Hasta muy pronto Amazona.

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