Fishing Week For The Tribes

Kayapo, Jurito, Xoco and Tapirapé tribes came together for the annual Amazon fishing week. An event where many activities are held, fishing and trading are done. Although the first day was a day when all tribes gathered and the leaders gave a speech to Amazonian; each day of the week focused on a different tribe and their activities.

After the tribal leaders said their words and opened the week, everyone gathered to make ritual in front of Mama Cocha statue to bless the waters. But, I heard something like "It was once the custom to offer up a young child to be drowned for Mama Cocha - but alas!" So all they could do was surround Amazonian women with flowers and let them dance for the Gods.

The first tribe that comes to mind when talking about fish: Jurito.
Firstly, Amazonian men gathered in the river for the anaconda dance to swing their ''anaconda's" side to side. Then Jurito's Chief Mike stepped forward and gave Amazonian people a chance to drown their own Chiefs and Elders in fishes. Tribe members competed in throwing fishes to Chiefs and Elders whose were trapped. This was a chance for them to vent their rebel on their chiefs, to take revenge. Specially to against to whose used to punish their members with fish throwing. Thus, Jurito offered a fishy, fun and needed activity to participants of the week.

Tapirapé, the arrangers of this excellent week, choose to help people to find their guide animal. On this day, Tapi Shaman Whispering went into a trance and found people's guardian animal. Shaman explained to every person the meaning of the animal that appeared on them. And she said it will protect them for a year.

The Shaman of Kayapo: Laysa did the right thing and invited Amazonian people to pray, to offer their fishes to Gods, for showing greatness. Right after that day, Hidden Valley was shaken by the Xoco Dance party. Sands flying around, fishes fluttering on the ground, pussies waiting in ambush. Everyone gathered to celebrate this beautiful week.

In the last two days, once again, Xoco wanted to make everyone drunk. The Chieftess Khaing's rums were lost in the Hidden Valley; whoever found them and list their codes would be declared as The King/Queen Smuggler. So, Sergeant Sunisa won this competition. By finding the bottles one by one, drinking them all, hides them by burying them under the sand. With her smartness she becomes Smuggler Policia of Amazonia.

And like all good things come to an end, fishing week had come to an end too. They decided to finish this week with a canoe race. So everyone did gather at Gallivant's Clearing river to race against the time with canoes. The canoes set out from the starting line next to the hidden valley, go throughout north of the Amazon, turned from the bloodbath and came back to the start. Strong and ambitious competitors jumped into the canoes, and many tried to beat the record time more than once. There were whirlpools and obstacles on the river to make people slower. But it wasn't the only problem, Chaotic people in the Amazon were throwing fishes to the participants, throwing worms, showing off their naked titties and even attacking to some of them. While crossing the angry river was difficult enough, they also had to protect themselves. But all of these didn't stop some. After so much crashes, wetnesses, laughs and ambitions, the top three have been determined. They played the drums and announced the winners:

In the third place is Linda Harraway with 06.21 minutes. Right after in the second place there is Smuggler Sunisa with 06.16 minutes. And in the first place... It was me, Morgana with 06.12 minutes!  While the winners enjoyed their trophy and shouted joy to the skies, the tribes packed up their tents, handed fish buckets, said goodbye to each other and promised to see each other at another event. Which they hope to will be soon.

This week, every corner of the Amazon has come together. Brotherhood and fun come together. What was forgotten was grudge and mischief. Fishing week was an excuse – coming together was what we all needed. Family, friends, strangers, everyone, gather to fishing and to dancing and these are the things we will remember about this week. Thanks to all the tribes that participated, and also thanks to Tapirapé for bringing and arranging this event. It was a great honour to be a part of it!  
 
 Until another event - safe paths!

✎Written by ARN Reporter Morgana