La fuerza de la manicuera : acciones de resistencia de las mujeres Uitoto de la Chorrera-Amazonas durante la explotación del caucho - Casa Arana

Abstract

During the first three decades of the twentieth century, the region of the Brazilian, Peruvian and Colombian Amazon was the most important producer of rubber or syringa (Hevea brasilienses). The main labour force used was indigenous, which resulted in the biggest genocide against the people of the Amazonas, affecting particularly the Uitoto, Okaina, Muinane and Bora nations in La Chorrera. It was in this place, located on the Igara Paraná river basin (kotue) where it was established the rubber company ¨Arana Hermanos¨ also known as “la Casa Arana”, later known as the Peruvian Amazon Rubber Company, registered in London. Although, the entire indigenous population (men, women, children) were brutally enslaved, harassed, tortured and massacred; women were raped and used as sexual objects, as a tool to enforce racial dominance, hatred and ethnic discrimination. In response to these acts of violence, women resorted to strategies based on their own traditional knowledge and practices recognizing in their culture "the power of the manicuera". The manicuera - juiñoi: is a Uitoto sacred beverage obtained from the sweet yucca (fareka), which was given by the creator ¨moo¨ to women as strength and power in the performance of their integral roles: as source of wisdom and as protective mother of the territory, the community and the chagra. This investigation identifies and interprets the narratives from the memory of the Uitoto people, which today, a century after the genocide of the Amazon, are used as basis for political actions by the indigenous women of La Chorrera.