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WhatindigenousgroupstraditionallyuseAyahuasca?
bySachahambi|Feb28,2008|Shamanism|13comments

TheregionoftraditionalAyahuascauseistheUpperAmazon,thatis,thewesternpartoftheAmazonBasin,andthewesternpartoftheGuiana
Shield.(TheGuianaShield,whichencompassesmuchofColombia,Venezuela,Guyana,Surinam,andFrenchGuiana,isnottechnicallypartof
theAmazonBasin,asitsriversdonotdraintotheAmazonRiver,butecologicallyandculturallyitisconsideredaspartoftheAmazon
rainforest,andwewillhereinafterusetheterminologythatincludestheGuianaShieldaspartoftheAmazon.)
GroundzeroofAyahuascausageisthenorthwesternregionoftheAmazonBasinwhereColombia,Peru,Ecuador,andBrazilcometogether
(seeredoutlinedareaonmap).Closeto100%ofindigenousethnicgroupsheretraditionallyuseAyahuasca(andthisalsocontainsthecenters
ofmestizotraditionalusage,IquitosandPucallpainPeru).Beyondthat(seefuschiaoutlinedareaonmap)Ayahuascaisusedbyalargemajority
oftheindigenouspeoples.Ayahuascaisalsousedbyseveralindigenousgroupsoutsideofthisareaoftraditionalusage:theTsachilaandChachi
ofthenortherncoastofEcuador,theEmberaofwesternColombiaandtheChocoofnorthwesternColombianearthePanamaborder,and
someGuaranigroupsineasternBolivia,whichmayhaveadoptedAyahuascainmoderntimes.(Seelightblueareas.)

AssigninganactualnumbertotheAmazonianethnicgroupsthatuseAyahuascaisnotastraightforwardtask,asitisoftendifficulttodefine
whethertwoneighboringcommunitieswithsimilarcustomsandsimilartonguesconstituteoneethnicgrouportwoAmazonianpeoples
themselvesusuallydonottraditionallyconcernthemselveswithsuchdefinitions,astheirtraditionalloyaltiesandidentificationhaveusually
beentotheirownimmediatevillage,andethnic/tribalidentityisanewconceptthatisdevelopinginmoderntimesasAmazonianpeoples
organizefortheirrights.Multiplevariantnamesintheliteratureforthesamegroupsaddstothedifficultyofenumeratinggroups,and
sometimesthesamenamebeingassignedtoseveraldifferentgroups(likeCampaforAshaninkaandNomatsigenka,orNapoRunaforthe
distinctculturesoftheUpperandLowerNapoRiver).But,asdefinedbylanguageandcommonculturalcharacteristics,thereareapproximately
130indigenoustribesintheoutlinedareas.
Ayahuascausehasbeenrecordedeitherinpastorpresentamongthefollowinggroups.Alternativenamesandspellingswithwhichtheymaybe
referencedintheliteratureareinparentheses,andlocationsaregivensothattheymaybefoundonthefollowingmapsfromethnologue.com
(extinctgroupsdonotappear):
NorthernColombia
SouthernColombia
Ecuador
NorthernPeru
SouthernPeru
Bolivia

Brazil
Venezuela
Achuar(Achual,Achuara)Ecuador/N.Peru
Amahuaca(Amenguaca,Sayacu)S.Peru
Amuesha(Yanesha,Amuese,Amueixa,Amoishe,Amagues,Amage,Amaje,Amajo,Amuetamo)S.Peru
Angutero(Ancutere,Pioje)N.Peru(note1)
Ashninka(Ashaninca,Campa)S.Peru(note2)
Ashninka(Asheninca)S.Peru(note2)
Awajn(Aguaruna)N.Peru
AwishiriPeru(extinct)
Banihua(Baniwa)Brazil/Venezuela
Barasana(Paneroa,Eduria,Edulia)S.Colombia
Bora(Boro)N.Peru/S.Colombia

CandoshiShapra(Kandoshi)N.Peru
Capanahua(Kapanawa)N.Peru
Carijona(Karijona,Carihona,Umawa,HianacotoUmaua)S.Colombia
CashiboCacataibo(KashiboKakataibo)N.Peru
Chachi(Cayapa,Kayapa)Ecuador(note3)
Chamicura(Chamikura)N.Peru
ChasutinoPeru/Bolivia(exactlocationunidentified)
Chayavita(Chayahuita,Chayawita,Shayabit,Chawi,Tsaawi,Tshaahui,Tschhuito,Paranapura)N.Peru
Chebero(Jebero,Xebero,Xihuila)N.Peru
Choco(Choko)Colombia(note4)(note3)
Cofn(Kofan,Kofane,Ai)Ecuador/S.Colombia
CocamaCocamilla(Kokama,Huallaga,Pampadeque,Pandequebo,Ucayali,Xibitaoan)N.Peru
ConiboN.Peru(note5)
Cubeo(Kubeo,Cuveo,Kobeua,Kubwa,Kobewa,Pamiwa,Hehenawa)N.Colombia
Cuiba(Cuiva,Kuiva,Kuiba,Kwiba,CuibaWmonae)N.Colombia/Venezuela
Culina(Kulina)S.Peru/Brazil
Desana(Desano,Wina,Boleka,Oregu,Kusibi)S.Colombia/Brazil
Embera(Emper,Eber,Atrato,Baud,Catr,Embena,Eyabida,Chami)N.Colombia(note9)(note3)
Eseejja(Chama)Bolivia/S.Peru
Guahibo(Sikuani)N.Colombia/Venezuela
Gwanana(Guanano,Wanana,Uanano,Kotiria,Anana,Ktedia)N.Colombia
GuaraniBolivia/Brazil(note3)(note6)
Harambket(Mashco,Amarakaire,Amarakaeri)S.Peru
HianakotaUmanaBrazil
Huambisa(Wambisa)N.Peru
HupdaMaku(Hupde)Brazil/S.Colombia
HuniKuin(Cashinahua)S.Peru/Brazil
Ikito(Iquito,Iquita,Amacacore,Hamacore,Quiturran,PucaUma)N.Peru
IngaN.Colombia(note7)
InganoN.Colombia(note7)
Isconahua(Iscobaquebu)N.Peru
IxiamasChama(Tacana)Bolivia
KabuvariBrazil
KachaPeru(locationunidentified)
Kams(Camsa,Sibundoy,Coche)N.Colombia
Koreguaje(Coreguaje,Correguaje,Koreuaju,Caquet,ChaochaPai)N.Colombia
Lamistas(Lamista,Lama)N.Peru(note7)(note8)
Machiguenga(Matsikenka,Matsigenga,Matsiganga,Maaries)S.Peru
MaiHunaN.Colombia
Maku(Cacua)S.Colombia
Makuna(Macuna,Buhagana,Yeba,Suroa,TabotiroJejea,Umua,Wuhna,Paneroa,JepaMatsi,YepMahs)S.Colombia
MarinahuaS.Peru(note9)
Matses(Mayoruna,Morique)N.Peru(note10)
MazanPeru(extinct)
MenimeheColombia(apparentlyextinct)
Mojo(Mojos,Moxo,Moxos)Bolivia
Muinane(Murui,Muinana,Muinani,Muename)S.Colombia
NapoRuna,Upper(Quijos,NapoKichwa,AwaNapoRuna,QuichuasdeTena)Ecuador(note7)
NapoRuna,Lower(OrellanaRuna,UkuNapoRuna)Ecuador,N.Peru
Nheengatu(Ngengatu,Waengatu,LinguaGeral)S.Colombia/Brazil(note11)
Nomatsiguenga(Nomatsigenka,Atiri)S.Peru
NoanamaN.Colombia
Omagua(Pariana,Anapia,Macanipa,Kambeba,Yhuata,Umaua,Cambela,Cambeeba)Ecuador/Peru(note12)
PanoboPeru(extinct)
PastazaRuna(Canelos,Alama)Ecuador(note7)
Piapoko(Piapoco)N.Colombia
Piaroa(Kuakua,Guagua,Quaqua)N.Colombia/Venezuela
PiocheColombia(note13)
Piro(Yine,MashcoPiro,Mashco,Cujareo,Simiranch)S.Peru
Puinave(Puinabe)N.Colombia
SecoyaEcuador/Colombia/N.Peru
SharanahuaS.Peru
SheteboN.Peru(note14)
ShipiboConiboN.Peru
ShiwiarEcuador/N.Peru(note15)
Shuar(Shuara,Jivaro,Jibaro)Ecuador/N.Peru
SionaEcuador/Colombia
TaiwanoS.Colombia(note16)
TakanaBolivia

TamasBrazil
Tanimuka(TanimucaRetuara)N.Colombia
TarianasBrazil
Tatuyo(Pamoa,Oa,Tatutapuyo,Juna)N.Colombia
Tikuna(Ticuna,Tukuna)Brazil/S.Colombia
TeteteColombia/Ecuador(extinct)
Tsachila(Colorados)Ecuador
Tukano(Tucano)S.Colombia/Brazil
Waorani(Huaorani.Auca)Ecuador
Witoto(Huitoto,Minika,Bue)S.Colombia(note2)
Yagua(Yahua,Llagua,Yegua,Yava,NijyamNikyejaada)N.Peru
Yaminahua(Yaminawa,Jaminaw,Yuminahua,Yamanawa,Chitonahua)S.Peru/Brazil
YebasamaN.Colombia
Yekuana(Makiritari,Maquiritare)Venezuela
Yora(Yura,Yuranahua,Yoranahua,Parquenahua,Nahua)S.Peru
ZparoEcuador/N.Peru
(1)notonEthnologuemap,classifiedbyEthnologueasasubgroupofSecoya
(2)dividedintovarioussubgroupareasonEthnologuemap
(3)locatedoutsideofAmazon/GuianaShieldregion
(4)someChocoliveinPanama,butthosearenotknowntouseAyahuasca
(5)todayvirtuallymergedwithShipibo,butsomeearlyliteraturetreatsthemseparately
(6)someGuaraniliveinParaguay,buttherearenotknowntouseAyahuasca
(7)speakadialectofAmazonianQuechua
(8)identifiedonEthnologueN.PerumapasQuechua,SanMartin
(9)notonEthnologuemap,classifiedbyEthnologueasasubgroupofSharanahua
(10)donotuseAyahuascacurrently,butdidatonetimeandhaveforgottenhow,somenowtryingtorecoverit
(11)notanethnicgroup,butaTupinambabasedlinguafrancausedbyvariousIndiansoftheupperRioNegro,bysomeastheirlanguagesome
ofthegroupsknowntouseNhengatuareAyahuascausers
(12)althoughtheOmaguas(onceamajorpoweronthelowerNapoandAmazonheadwaters)arenearlyextinct,someOmaguawordssurvivein
icarosofmestizocuranderosofIquitos
(13)classifiedasSionaonEthnologuemap,butconsiderthemselvesdistinctfromSiona
(14)notonEthnologuemap,classifiedbyEthnologueasasubgroupofShipibo
(15)classifiedbyEthnologueasadialectofAchuar
(16)notonEthnologuemap,classifiedbyEthnologueasasubgroupofBarasana
SomegroupsintheabovelisthavebecomeextinctsincereportsweremadesomeappeartohaveabandoneduseofAyahuascaunder
missionarypressure(orithasgoneunderground).
ForthefollowingindigenoustribesinthetraditionalgeographicalareaofAyahuascause,norecordeddataonAyahuascausecouldbefound.
However,manyhavebeenlittlestudiedorobservedbyoutsiders,soabsenceofreportsdoesnotnecessarilymeanabsenceofuse,andinsome
cases(asnotedbelow)therearereportsofAyahuascauseamongothergroupsthatareneighboringandcloselyrelatedlinguisticallyand
culturally.Datafromforummembersisverywelcomed!
Achagua(Xagua)N.Colombia(note1)
AjyninkaApurucayaliS.Peru(note4)
Andoke(Andoque)N.Peru/S.Colombia(note2)
Arabela(Chiripunu)N.Peru(note3)
Cabiyari(Cabiuar,Cauyar,Kauyar,Cuyare,Kawillary)S.Colombia
Cacua(Bda,Kkwa)N.Colombia
CahuaranoN.Peru
CaquinteS.Peru(note4)
Carabayo(Macusa)S.Colombia(note3)
Carapana(Mochda,Moxdoa,Karapan,Karapano,Mext)N.Colombia
Curripaco(Kurripaco)S.Colombia(note5)
Guayabero(Jiw,Cunima,Mtus,Mtua)N.Colombia(note6)
HuachipaeriS.Peru(note7)
Iapari(Iamari)S.Peru
Macaguan(Macaguane,Hitn)N.Colombia(note6)
MiraaS.Colombia(note8)
Muniche(Otanave,Otanabe,Munichino,Munichi)N.Peru
Nanti(Kogapakori)S.Peru(note9)
OcainaN.Peru(note10)
PiratapuyoS.Colombia
Pisabo(Pisagua,Pisahua)N.Peru
Resigaro(Resigero)N.Peru
SalibaN.Colombia
Taushiro(Pinchi)N.Peru
Tutapi(Orejon,Oregon,Orechon,Payagua,MaiJa)N.Peru(note11)
TuyukaS.Colombia/Brazil
Waikino(Uaikena,Piratapuyo,UrubuTapuya)N.Colombia

WaimahaS.Colombia
YariS.Colombia
Yukuna(Matapi(Matapie)S.Colombia
YurutiS.Colombia
(1)closerelativesPiapocoreportedtouseAyahuasca
(2)closerelativesTikunareportedtouseAyahuasca
(3)closerelativesZaparoreportedtouseAyahuasca
(4)closerelativesAshaninkareportedtouseAyahuasca
(5)closerelativesBaniwareportedtouseAyahuasca
(6)closerelativesGuahiboreportedtouseAyahuasca
(7)closerelativesHarambketreportedtouseAyahuasca
(8)closerelativesBorareportedtouseAyahuasca
(9)closerelativesMachiguengareportedtouseAyahuasca
(10)closerelativesWitotoreportedtouseAyahuasca
(11)closerelativesTukanoreportedtouseAyahuasca
TheonlygroupintheredzonethatappearsnottohaveusedAyahuascainthepastorpresentistheShimaco(akaShimaku,Urarani,Itucali)
(AlanShoemaker,personalcommunication).TherearereportsspecificallystatingthattheYaguaandCandoshidonotuseAyahuasca,butother
reportsthattheydouseAyahuasca,sotheyhavemaylearnedfrommissionariestoconcealAyahuascafromsomeoutsiders.
SomeindigenousnamesforAyahuasca(mostofthesenamesapplytoboththevineandthebrew):
Tupi:caapi(note1)
Hupda:carpi
Tikuna:cipocaapi
Desana:gahpi
Siona/Secoya:yaje(note2)iko
Kofan:yajecofaoofa
Karijona:yaje
Guanano:yaja
Tukano:kaji(note3)kadana,kadanapira
Yebasama:kaji
Makuna:kahee,kahiide
Yekuana:sipo,cipokahi
Kulina:tsipu(note6)mado,madobidadaramiwetsem(note9)
Shuar:natem,natema(withfinalawhispered)
Achuar:natem
Huambisa:datem
Awajn:datem
Ashaninka:kamarampi(note4)hananeroca(note5)
Yine:kamalampi
Machikenka:kamaranpi,kamarampiwampu,wamp
Embera:pinde,pilde
Chachi:pindnape,nepe,nepi
Tsachila:pinde,pildenapa,nepe,nepi
Choco:nape,nepe,nepi
Noanama:dapa
Waorani:mii,miiyagi
Shipibo:nishioni
Conibo:uni
Amahuaca:nixionixuma
Cashinahua:nixipae
Sharanahua:shuri(note7)ondirambi,rame(note8)
Pando:shuriundirambi(note9)

Yaminahua:shori
Marinahua:rame(note9)
Yagua:ramanuju
Mojo:mariri
Kubeo:mihi
Piro:totsha
Zaparo:iyona,iona
Guarani:jauma
Kamsa:biaxii
Guahibo:uipa
Barasana:(note10)
Ingano:indehuasca(note11)
Quechua:ayahuasca(alsospelledayawaska)(note12)
Uncertain:cabixonoshillintojagubipitujiracucauupirimariritiwacomariri
(1)therootkaaorcaainTupimeansplant.Naranjo(1983)translatescaapiasleaftomakeoneexhale,i.e,becomeaspirit.
(2)varietiesinclude:yaiyajneayajhoroyajwekiyajwaiyajorwahiyajewatiyajwekoyajhamowekoyajbejiyajkwikuyaj
kwakuyajeasoyajkidoyajuseboyajgatokamayaiyajzisimiyajbiyajsiasewiyajeseseyajorsiseyaj(wildpigyaje,used
forhunting)soomwawaiyaj(longvineyaje)
(3)varietiesinclude:kajiriamamenekajmayaiyasunakajimakajvaibucururijomakajuurikahimamenekajmakajsomoma
(4)thatwhichcausespurging
(5)saidtomeanvineoftheriverofcelestialyouth
(6)varietiesinclude:tsiputsueni,tsipuwetseni,tsipumakuni
(7)varietiesincludeshurifisopa,shurioshinipa,shurioshpa,shuriawuoshi,shuriawufiso
(8)literallymeanschangeortransformationreferstothecookedbrew,tothevisions,ortothesongsthataccompanytheceremony
(9)note8mayapplyhere,butnotknownforcertain
(10)nogeneralnamehasbeenuncovered,butvarietiesinclude:kumabaserewaibukukihoamawenandurigudahubeamayaiyasuava
kahimawaibuhuagudahebeamamyokibukugudahubeama
(11)sunvine
(12)varietiesincludepungawaska,nuknuwaska,shimbayawaska,amongothers

13Comments
adminonFebruary28,2008at8:05pm
goodinfo,thanks

billycutsonMarch8,2008at6:20pm
IdliketoaddtheUrarina,whoarefoundintheChambiraBasininNorthernPeru,tothislistasthey
definitelyuseayahuasca.FormoreinformationseetheworkofBartholomewDean.

samanthaonOctober6,2009at4:57pm
hi,imwonderingifanyonecantellmewhotheindigenouspeopleoftena,ecuadorare.thanks.

sachaonOctober7,2009at5:16pm
IdliketoaddtheUrarina,whoarefoundintheChambiraBasininNorthernPeru,tothislistasthey
definitelyuseayahuasca.
Thanks,Illseeifthearticlecanberevised.IalsolefttheKamsaandChocoeoffthemap(notcontiguouswith
therestofthegroupsonthemap)soIneedtoredothemaptoo.

imwonderingifanyonecantellmewhotheindigenouspeopleoftena,ecuadorare.thanks.
TheindigenouspeopleofTena(Napoprovince)EcuadorareknownasNapoRuna,NapoKichwa(orNapo
Quichua)orQuijos.TheyspeakadialectofAmazonianQuechuaorKichwainfact,itisfromtheirlanguage
(theirformofQuechua)thatmostoftheQuechuawordsassociatedwithAyahuascapracticecome.

samanthaonOctober8,2009at10:28pm
thanks!thatsveryhelpful.~samantha

CleberMonteiroMunizAyshagawaonMarch5,2010at5:12am
GiventhefactofanalogueayahuascajuremacanbefoundinnortheastofBrazilandthefactofmanytipesof
BanisteriopsisandPsychotria(andothers)canbefoundinthecenterandthesoutheastBrazil,itsreasonable
tothinkthatsomesouthernsindigenousgroups,likeguarani,terena,kainagangetc.hasuseditinthe
somedayinthepast.
Intheplaceonwhereilive,SoPaulo,thetemperatureandhumidityisverysimilartothegroundzerousage.

AyshagawaonMarch7,2010at1:08pm
TheremanytipesofBanisteriopsis,PsychotriaandotherayahuascaplantsinallpartsofsouthBrazil.So,
manyofthesesoutherngroupsmayusesometipeofayahuascainthepast,beforetheethnocidecolonization.
Someofthemare:guarani,kaingang,xokleng,terenaandmanyothersextinctgroups.Mygrandmothersaid
tomethatallherpeoplewasallexterminatedordestribalized(destribalizado)inthebeginingoftheXX
century.
IusetowalkintheTropicalAtlanticRainForestandfindmanytipesoftheseplants.

AyshagawaonMarch7,2010at1:16pm
PS.InmanypartsofsouthBrazil,thetemperatureareverysimilartotheonesofSucumbios,Napoand
Pastaza.

ConstantinesharpeonJuly10,2010at7:23pm
Iaminterestedintheapprox.locationinEcuadorofItucalitribe,andwhatindigenouslanguagetheyspeak.
Also,abouttheJivarostribe.
ThankYOU.

BrenoonSeptember27,2010at6:44pm
Hithere,
IliveinPanamaCityandIheardtherewouldhaveaplaceinEmber,southofthecountrytotakethe
ayahuasca.
HereinthesiteyoumentionEmberinNorthColombiaisthereawaytofinditinPnam?Whereabout?
Thanksalot,
Breno

J.SpinneyonApril13,2012at2:47pm
IamwritinganundergraddissertationontheusageofayahuascaandIwaswonderingifIcouldhaveyour
permissiontoattachthislistasanappendixtomywork?Iwillgivetheauthorfullcredit,ofcourse.

SachahambionApril13,2012at7:25pm
Yes,youcancreditittohttp://www.ayahuasca.com.
(Youmightalsofindmuchusablematerialontheforums,andtherearemanypeoplewithexperienceinSouth
Americatherewhocananswerquestions.SeelinktoForumsinupperright.)

GeneonApril25,2015at5:02am
@Sachahambi
veryinteresting.
seemsthatiquitosistheepicenterofayahuascatourism.
isthatsimplybecauseiquitosiseasilyaccessible?
aretherebetter(lesstouristy)placestoexperienceayahuascainyouropinionplease?
thanks!

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