Achuar

The Achuar, also known as Achuar-Shiwiar, are an indigenous people of the Amazon basin in Ecuador and Peru. They belong to the Jivaroan language family, and their language is called Achuar-Shiwiar. The term Shiwiar is used by some communities to refer to themselves, emphasizing their language and identity within the Jivaroan group.

Geographically, they live along upper Amazon River tributaries, including the Pastaza, Morona, and Napo river systems in Ecuador and Peru. They inhabit dispersed riverine communities and maintain a subsistence-based economy.

Language: Achuar-Shiwiar is the primary language; many speakers are bilingual in Spanish. The language is part of ongoing preservation and bilingual education efforts.

Economy and social life: Traditional subsistence relies on swidden agriculture (manioc, plantains, bananas), hunting, fishing, and gathering. Social organization centers on villages and kin groups, with leadership shared among elders and councils; shamans play a central role in healing and in guiding ritual life, using plant-based medicines and ayahuasca as part of ceremonies.

History and contemporary affairs: Contact with Europeans began in the colonial era and intensified during the rubber boom. In modern times, Achuar communities engage in land rights advocacy and conservation work and participate in regional indigenous organizations to protect forests and cultural heritage.

Today, many Achuar navigate multiple worlds, maintaining traditional practices while engaging with national societies, education, and health systems. Their forest homeland and cultural continuity remain central to their identity.