Roberto lives with his family in the Matsés village of Remoyacu. He is gregarious and has an infectious sense of humor. Meeting him one would never guess that as an infant he was captured, along with his mother and sister, from the Kulina tribe. Captive boys typically had a difficult time and were not truly integrated into Matsés society until they married. Luckily for Roberto, his father was very kind and always treated him as an equal to his biological children.
Quick snapshot of Roberto as the Matsés work to prepare the second chapter of the Traditional Medicine Encyclopedia.
Roberto became an outstanding hunter at a young age as well as an excellent traditional healer, allowing him to marry early. Roberto is known among the Matsés for his ability to trick peccary into undercuts along the river where he has a hole through the ceiling of the cavern that he uses to introduce a snare to catch the animal with minimal effort. His community voted him the first chief of Remoyacu, showing that any stigma associated with being a captive is long removed.
Roberto takes pleasure in treating his people with the plant medicines he has mastered over the years. In this capacity, he was selected by his community to be the elder plant master for the second chapter of the Matsés Traditional Medicine Encyclopedia, an initiative of Acaté. As a Matsés elder, Roberto is often invited to Iquitos for conferences and enjoys learning about the outside world.
Roberto on a medicinal plant walk identifying plants used in traditional remedies.
Roberto sharing his indigenous wisdom with Acaté’s William Park.
Acaté Amazon Conservation is a non-profit conservation organization based in the United States and Perú that is an extraordinary partnership of the Matsés indigenous people and dedicated conservationists with decades of experience. The Matsés indigenous people live along the tributaries of the upper Javari River, in the heart of the Amazon Basin of what is now the present day border between northeastern Peru and Brazil. The Matsés are famed as fierce warriors due to their defeat of the rubber tappers who invaded their territory early in the 20th century and their long conflict against frontier colonizers backed by the Peruvian military. Peaceful contact with the outside world began in 1969 when they accepted a meeting with missionaries. Today, the Matsés still live by hunting, fishing and farming but in family homes in permanent villages instead of in communal longhouses in temporary villages.
The Matsés safeguard a vast and biodiverse corridor of intact primary rainforest as well as shield some of the last remaining uncontacted tribal groups in isolation from unwanted encroachment from the outside world.
All of Acaté’s projects are developed in a close partnership with, led, and implemented by the Matsés indigenous people. We operate through implementing strategic programs and real-on-the-ground initiatives that help them protect their chosen way of life, traditions, their ancestral lands and ecology. The on-the-ground conservation initiatives are capacity-building and designed to support their self-sufficiency and independence. Acaté operates with unparalleled integrity and transparency in its operations, partnerships, and reporting.
You can subscribe to Acaté for the latest updates on our on-the-ground conservation initiatives in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest.
Please consider donating today to support our work. The Matsés and other indigenous peoples in the Amazon struggle with the most limited external resources to protect the future of their people, culture, and their rainforests. Each donation will be applied where it will have the highest impact and with full transparency and accountability. Acaté does not exist for the sake of sitting on the sidelines. We are here to make a true impact and we welcome your support!
Acaté Amazon Conservation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit
Recurring donations help our low-overhead organization run efficiently, ensuring that much needed funds are in the hands of the Matsés where it can be put to direct use.
Your donations are tax-deductible and are greatly appreciated!
