Majoruna heritage of traditional medicine

As first of 13 children, Don Pedro was born in a palm thatched hut in the solitude of the - at that time still untouched - Peruvian rainforest in Quebrado Stratto - several hours by boat away from Tamishiyacu. His father had settled in the dangerous area located between the Jivaro and Majoruna tribal territories. That he has been able to survive there at all is due to his extraordinary life story.

After the break-down of the great rubber-boom there were great tensions between the settlers and the native indigenous population. Due to the rubber industry, many of the Amazon tribes were made slaves - numerous tribal people died a gruesome death. Don Pedro’s grandfather lived in the middle of the jungle. His son, Don Pedro’s father Jose Guerra was abducted by the Majorunas at the age of eight.

He lived with the tribe until he was an adult. He remained settled close to the borders of the tribal land when he founded his own family. He was more Indian than Mestizo. At that time, only people with a high estimation of the Majoruna were able to survive in such perilous proximity to the tribe.

During a half year long dramatic military mobilization in 1962, many Majoruna were killed or fled to Brazil. After that time, Don Jose Guerra was one of the very few in the area of Tamishiyacu who still possessed the extensive plant knowledge of the Majorunas. Throughout his life he was highly esteemed for his knowledge of medicinal plants.

As curandero Don Jose Guerra was known in areas wide beyond his village. He was "palero", in possession of powerful icaros and worked with tobacco in his healing rituals. Throughout his life he treated the people who came to him, without ever taking money in exchange. He secured the survival of his family through his work as campesino in the field. He was known an honest and hard worker.

From an early age on his eldest son Pedro accompanied him into the jungle. Barefoot in the rainforest, Pedro soon became acquainted with the animals and plants and learned to school his instincts for survival in the jungle. The Amazon jungle area that is familiar to Don Pedro has the incredible extension of a thousand kilometres.