Living with the Machigenga: ep6: trade 17Mar09
Over the years, trade has been kept to a minimum within Machigenga society, as contact with the outside world has been associated with their destruction. In recent years whilst trade has increased, fear of the outside world and ongoing isolationism has remained. In this journal extract I look back at their history and examine the current threats faced by the Machigenga.
One would think that the Machigenga have to be one of the worst treated indigenous groups in history. Sadly many other peoples, in other parts of the world, will also tell of similar horrors. Outsiders have always had a nasty habit of brining death and destruction upon the Machigenga. The 1500s brought the Spanish conquistadors, 184 soldiers, led by Francisco Pizarro and his number two, Hernando De Soto. They completely annihilated the reigning Inca, raining hellfire down on them, killing all who stood in their way and stealing their gold. The Inca capital Cuzco, where our journey began, has now been transformed into a monument to that genocide, carried out in the name of God, and for the greed of gold. The main square is lined by churches, their interiors gilded in the gold of the Incas; the Dominican Church still proudly displaying a monument of giant dogs, the same dogs the Conquistadors brought over and trained to rip out the throats of the Incas. Indigenous Andean Indians now drift through town, their traditional dress, radiating their presence, sometimes with a llama in tow or some handmade hats to try to make a few cents posing for photographs or selling some traditional wears. Despite the colour, they seem sad, out of place in their own town. The Peruvian government recently sent a delegation to Madrid to ask the Spanish to return the Inca gold they’d pillaged centuries before. The response was quick and corrosive: “You cant have your gold back but we’ll give you a small grant for the upkeep of the Spanish buildings”. The indigenous people of Peru now live the shadow of a cruel, brutal history of exploration and exploitation.
The Inca foretold the arrival of the Viracochka (white faces), a fate of death, destruction and complete annihilation of their culture and civilisation. Some Inca managed to flee over the Andes and into the high montane forests of the upper Amazon, the ancestral lands of the Machigenga, but in hot pursuit were the pesky Conquistadores who believed the escaping Inca were running off with gold to set-up base at El Dorado (the Gilded One), the legendary lost city of gold, hidden in the jungles and miles from the preying and murderous eyes of the hairy, disease carrying and often warty, Spanish. Despite endless expeditions, the Spanish never found El Dorado, or Patiti as it was sometimes called. Instead they found only the Machigenga, and angered by the relentless assault of aphids and arachnids, all unknown to science and bearded emissaries of the Pope, the Spanish took their anger out on the people they found, the people who were living quietly in harmony with the jungle around them. As each assassin bug bit them, they must have cursed the Machigenga, who no doubt would have sat smiling, amused by how these strange white faces were reacting to the place they called home. The Spanish, so enraged, began colonising the upper Urubamba River, quickly taking millions of hectares of forest, enslaving any Machigenga they found and putting some to work cocoa and sugar-cane (for alcohol) and others to hunt meat to the feed the other slaves they had working the gold mines elsewhere in the region.
Three hundred years of enslavement by the Spanish ended in the mid 1800s with the enslavement under a new evil – rubber barons – men like the famous Fitzcarold who’s character inspired Werner Herzog (director of Rescue Dawn) to create Fitzcaraldo – the tale of a man who used the wealth of the rubber tappers to bring the opera, specifically Caruso, to the natives. Madness! And a madness far from the reality of rubber and the sub-human treatment handed out by the Baron Lambare on the poor Machigenga. Again they were enslaved – normally each for 5 years at first, and should they survive the horrors and deprivations (3 out of 4 didn’t), they were released on the condition that they help enslave five other Machigenga. By the mid 1950s, rubber production in their territory could no longer compete against the vast rubber plantations of Malaya, Borneo and elsewhere, so the barons departed leaving 38,000 Machigenga in graves and only 13,000 still alive.
Into the vacuum of exploitation rode the Colonistas – the ‘Haciendas’ – the big house folk – who continued the abhorrent enslavement, forcing the Machigenga to produce coffee and cocoa for them. Enter Hernando Germandi (not his real name, as the Machigenga don’t have fixed Christian names or surnames – instead they traditionally refer to each other by action) – and so it is that he will be known by these events – in our world he would be a Robin Hood, perhaps even a Che Guevara – but here he is simply the man who aged 9, fled into the jungle when his family were enslaved, to return 21 years later and track down the Colonistas who had imprisoned his family to a life of violently enforced servitude, kill them and take the body of their leader to the nearest police station – Cuzco – over 100miles of jungle and mountain passes. The police called him an assassin; the Machigenga called him their inspiration and liberator. A warrant was issued for his arrest but word spread on the jungle drums of the man who had fought back.
Finally in 1974, the Peruvian government passed the Law of Native Communities – for the first time acknowledging the indigenous Indians as people, granting them rights and jurisdiction to their own traditional land. But that sadly that hasn’t stopped Colonistas, cattle ranchers and loggers supported by favourable government policies, from still trying their luck, moving onto Machigenga land, and clearing the forest. Logging has long been the main economic activity across the entire Amazon, exploiting tribes like the Machigenga as their workforce. The fight is still on for the right to self-determination. Due to their devastating environmental, social and health related impacts it’s hydrocarbons projects (oil, gas, petroleum) that currently present one of the greatest threats. The Camisea Project now run by PlusPetrol overlaps into Machigenga territory and has been criticised nationally and internationally due to the poor social and environmental standards, the lack of effective consultation of the communities, the lack of transparency and indigenous rights abuses. Most recently the Machigenga have suffered the impacts of a series of spills from the poorly constructed pipeline, polluting rivers, killing fish which are traditionally a mainstay of the Machigenga diet and causing illnesses in the communities.
All of these things erode the territorial lands of Machigenga essential to their lives, culture, histories, medicine and belief system. Here territory means identity and you take the land from the Machigenga, you kill their whole way of life.
There are a number of NGO’s that are trying to represent the interests of the Machigenga. CEDIA was instrumental in supporting the making of this series believing that the more people in the rest of the world know about the Machigenga, the more that will help protect them.
Further information:
• CEDIA: The Centre for the Development of the Amazonian Indigenous People. http://www.cedia.org.pe/en/
• SHINAI – http://www.shinai.org.pe/
March 17th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I sat staring at the computer screen for about 10 minutes after reading this, just thinking. There’s just nothing to add. It was an excellent blog, Olly… It leaves me very sad.
Carmen
March 17th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Your blog reminds us all that while “Living With The Machigenga” is quite entertaining, there are serious issues revolving around these people and their rights. Olly, so often on the show you are made out as some sort of buffoon. How much better it would be if you increased your insightful commentary on camera and reduced the number of pratfalls. You may not be a macho man, but you certainly are an intelligent and communicative person. Again, I wonder…what is your education? You seem to be well versed in the knowledge of all sorts of intellectual things. Or, perhaps, your journalistic spirit carries you to learn things firsthand. (Often the better way, in my opinion) Kudos for this latest blog. Best one yet.. Keep -em coming!!
PS. Sorry about the flu. Hope you’re fully recovered.
March 17th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Hope you’re having a fun St. Patrick’s Day, Olly. : )
Looking forward to your wedding next week LOL
(I take nothing seriously on 17 March, so apologies if this comment is off-topic and somewhat silly.)
March 17th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Happy St. Patrick’s Day Olly!
Hope you are wearing something green. I just finish writing to you about living with the Mek: belief. That one was peaceful and innocent, but here we are the bloodshed and sorrow. What make some people think that they are superior than other, enough to enslave, and kill, just because they are different? I’m not a mean person, but after reading and come to know a little about the Machigenga, it made me mad. Do they know that under these so called, skin color, we are all the same? I might not know how to live like the Machigenga, but I do envy them of how simple they life is. I understand that they do not trusts the outsiders, who could blame them. Just because some people are innocent and naive, it does not meant they consider studpid or less than a human being. I sometime wonder if it will never end. Reading this one made me have a heaviness in my heart, and I guess probably does the same for you too, Olly. I’m glad you telling the story to the world, it might not change the whole world at once, but, maybe… you changing someone’s heart right now. Keep yourself safe, and I will be waiting to read more of your story. Tan
March 17th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
HI Olly,
So glad to read your new blog. It was a fantastic read! Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
-Veronica
March 18th, 2009 at 2:02 am
Hi again Olly,
Your blog was very informative and very sad.
I am glad that there are people who are trying to protect the Machigenga and I can see how it would be very hard to police any area in the middle of the jungle.
I find it a shame that with any indigenous group of people, they want to be left alone and have no contact with the outside world yet, as in the end of your blog, they need to be “exposed” to the outside world to help protect them. So sad.
Well, take care,
Julie
March 18th, 2009 at 2:17 am
One tends to forget how easily you can be assimilated into any culture after a while. The menion of the word “Conquistadores” shows the fear The Machigenga have due to the violence they have experience in the past.
History tends to repeat itself, just the way Mexico, Central and South America were concord by the Spaniards, its happening to them. The irony in this case is that the “new conquistadores” are
their own country man. How sad.
On a more positive notes, felicidades, on a job well done. Your show is not only informative, but entertaining. I am usually anxious for the Sunday’s show here in California.
Thank you for capturing the beauty of the Amazons, and bringing it into our homes.
Be safe.
March 18th, 2009 at 3:57 am
Hi Olly,
Sorry to hear you got sick. Hope you’re a 100% recovered. I think it would be hard to top Ep1 because of your dance of the peccaries, but Ep6 is definitely one of my favorites. The hour went by so quickly, I wanted to see more. It was tough to watch when you were under water (though I knew you survived obviously)…but still!
Whether to assimilate or not, it’s a difficult decision that the Machigenga would have to make eventually-either as an individual or as a tribe. Hope they stay in Koran Korata for as long as they want. But if or when the time comes for them to follow the path of the frog, I hope they do it by choice and not by force.
I saw the first half of your report on “The Bushmen: A San Story,” I couldn’t find the second half, so I don’t know how it ends. Anyway, it answered a lot of my questions of what life could be like if indigenous tribes assimilate in the modern world. I read an article, “Indigenous Women: Taking Control of Their Destiny”, it stated that “indigenous women face tremendous challenges…they have been doubly discriminated against: for being indigenous people and for being women” (if interested see http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/indigens/dpi1717e.htm). Perhaps in the future you could do an investigative report about the successes/struggles of various indigenous women after they have assimilated…just a suggestion. It was interesting for me to learn that
there are international laws that protect indigenous tribes, ILO Convention No. 169, but it has loopholes and some countries don’t truly implement it. The show is instrumental in opening the eyes of the world on how tough life is for indigenous tribes. Hopefully one day indigenous tribes would get the global respect and support they truly deserve.
Finally, how was the boat trip back to Koran Korata? Do you play any sports? You did some fancy footwork with the soccer ball while playing with Lucio and the boys. I think instead of “Paradise Lost,” Ep6 should have been titled “Paradise Found,” because Lucio realized where his true home is…with his family and his tribe.
-Lissa
March 18th, 2009 at 6:53 am
Olly,
Perhaps you should look into telling the story of the Machigenga and other indigenous people and the plight brought upon them by Western civilization. Although your show is very informative, there are many who do not watch it nor fully understand what truly is happening to these people.
In the USA, many improvements have been made in the lives of the Amerindians in the last couple of decades through laws such as NAGPRA; however, much more still needs to be done. Laws are not enough, they need to be enforced. Bringing to light the realities of what is happening to indigenous people may force others to sit-up and really take notice and thus force the governments to do their jobs and what is right for the people.
I have seen first hand what happened before and after laws such as NAGPRA were passed and then subsequently enforced. The before was (still is) horrific. And, I know that is nothing compared to what is happening to other indigenous people in other countries. The Machigenga are a prime example of people who need to be protected by their government but are not. I will now step down from my soapbox before I go too far.
Many people have used God as their excuse to take from others what they want. We hear often of how the Spanish and other Europeans brought horrible diseases like smallpox to Amerindians. However, we almost never get to hear of the wonderful disease the Amerindians gave to the Spanish in return-Syphilis! I have a hard time believing God wanted those men to bring the Bible to them AND have sex with them. I also find it quite hilarious. It just goes to show that they truly were not doing the things they did “in the name of God.”
I am anxious to see or hear how the Machigenga make their textiles. From this episode, I now know they do grow cotton and that may be the source of their fiber. In an attempt to keep the “old” way of doing things alive-sewing, quilting, spinning fiber into yarn, to name a few-I’m learning how to do many of these things and will hopefully be teaching them to others soon. Learning to make cloth is on my to-do list before I die.
I’m glad you’re doing well after your fight with the flu. I hope you had a nice time in China and bought some beautiful silk for your mother and sister. I’m looking forward to all the episodes to come of your and Mark’s adventures with the Machigenga.
March 18th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Aloha Olly,
Like the last post, thank you so much for sharing this.
So much research here! I might have to cite some of what’s here in my final paper (YES!!! We’re in the last week of this class!!!!!) as many of the themes you talk about here are the same themes I’m discussing in my paper (specifically, the encomienda system of the Spanish governmen and the writings of Bartolome de las Casas).
There were several parts of this episode that were rather light-hearted, but this post brings home exactly how serious these issues are. You alluded that ep 8 also deals with this theme, so I am very much looking forward to it.
Hope you’re feeling better and you had a great St. Patty’s Day. :D
Mahalo,
Monica
March 18th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Olly,
This post leaves me speachless. I have a friend that is from Peru. Very sweet lady, we call her Mary. I had no idea that these things were going on in her country. I haven’t talked to her in about a year. I must look her up again. Their history is very very interesting. Very similiar to the Native Americans in the US. It makes me want to help them keep their way of life going. I will look up the links you posted.
I’m glad the canoe turned out okay. Mark was very proud to be a part of that process. I too was a little scared when you went under water for a few minutes. I am glad they got their machettes even though the cotton was dirty. LOL!
I don’t have any questions on this post. It was very informative. I’m like Carmen, I had to stop and think about it for a while. I would like to tell you that I posted that video for you on YouTube. Its titled Olly Steeds dedication to Dierks Bentley’s song-Long Trip Alone.
Hope you are feeling much better,
Samantha
March 18th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
What I thought of or related this episode to were the Amish here in the US – granted vastly different set of environments, but at the core similar choices presented to the young adults. Stay with their family or enter the “modern” world. So, as each one leaves, a way of life and a culture is eroded.
What needs to be remembered is the US was also invovled in this type of “colonization”. It’s sad that lessons are slow to be learned.
March 18th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
I just watched Samantha’s video on YouTube… Samantha, that was fantastic! You make me cry. It was really beautiful. Well done.
There is another song that I could picture a montage of Olly’s work and pictures put to… Pictures of You by The Last Goodnight. I absolutely love that song and can’t keep a dry eye. I see so much when I hear that song. I see the whole world… good and bad, happy, sad…
Carmen
March 18th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Olly, thanks so much for such an informative blog. It was fascinating. Sorry you were so ill, but glad that you are on the mend!
Sara M
March 19th, 2009 at 4:12 am
Nice work on the video, Samantha!
March 19th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Thank you all for the wonderful comments on the video!
Carmen, I checked out the song you mentioned and I loved it!!! I have never heard of these guys before. They are awesome! You should check out my cousin’s band, Silver Stone. I posted 2 videos for them. My cousin, Mike, is the one with the long black hair. I taught him his first chords on the guitar and I used to tune his guitar for him, now he blows me away!! LOL
March 20th, 2009 at 12:15 am
Hey Olly,
I hope you’re feeling better and that you’re no longer jet lagged. I’m originally from the Philippines and every time we go back and stay for a month then come back to NY, I’m jet lagged for about a week. Anywhos, I just want to say nice blog and I enjoyed episode 6. I have to admit watching the episode, it made me sad to see the Machigenga settling down into their non traditional town and assimilating with the colonistas. It made me wonder about the future of the Machigenga and I can’t help but think of the possibility of the extinction of their traditional ways of life. The same thing is happening to the mountain tribes in the Philippines (the Ifugao, Igorot just to name a few). They were taught English by the missionaries that visited them a long time ago, and now they usually only wear traditional dress during special occasions. It just saddens me to think that the traditional way of life of any tribe will die out, and we’re left to turn to history books and photographs instead of actually being able to visit them. Anyways, take care of yourself Olly! Can’t wait for the next episode :)
Abby<3
March 20th, 2009 at 12:16 am
By the way Samantha, the video was beautiful! By the way, I saw the video of your kids.. they’re so cute :P
March 20th, 2009 at 2:02 am
Hi Olly,
When will you have a live chat session on the travel channel?
Safe Journeys
March 20th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Hi Olly,
My husband and I are really enjoying your series and journal entries. We’ve enjoyed watching Kombai and the Mek and now the Machigenga. We recently just completed the Kombai series and would love to read any journal entries you may have done. By far the Mek are my favorite for so many different reasons, then Kombai, I really like the way they are very warm and generous in sharing what little they had, and then theres the Machigenga. I’m starting to warm up to them now that the series is almost over, and I think I’m starting to get their sense of humor. I’m beginning to understand that they show their “love” for each other as well as you and Mark in a different sort of way, but very genuine.
Is there anyway you can post any journal entries that you may have done on the Kombai, or can you tell me where I might be able to find them on the internet? We would really, really , appreciate it! Thanks!
March 20th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Olly……….
Enjoyed the last episode. Other than comparing Che Guevara and Robin Hood in the same breath……..what the french?! I enjoyed reading this insiteful and informative history lesson on the Machigenga. Does give much more insite and exlanation to the viewer about their lives and why they react to strangers in the way that they do, their customs, etc. etc. Wonder…how much of their history are they aware of through the stories that are passed down to them… I would guess just by stories?? It’s one thing to google and read all about them as history has recorded it. But something altogether different when coming from their mouths as heard from generation to generation.
Love the show…can’t wait for this weeks…looks good.
Allie
March 20th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Olly Thank you so much for replying I feel so honored!! I want you to know you are my favorite character in all your adventures!! I hope we get to see more of you in the future! I wanted to ask you one more question if you dont mind – Youve probably answered it before but just how hard is it adjusting to life in the jungle? like on a personal level, no privacy, clothing, heigene, food, homesickness, etc etc..I imagine it must be very hard, I would get homesick. How do you feel when you finally get to go home, back to your family and society etc..
Thank you again truely!
March 21st, 2009 at 5:40 am
hi olly,
Very imformative piece of peruvian history.Now probably you now as much asus peruvians.Upon reading your blog you remind me
of el che guevara, he sort of expressed his thoughts and feeling similar to yours back some 35 to 40 years ago when he arrived
to cuzco and ayacucho.
In reference to the “Andean Indians” which we call “nustas or cholitas” you took the words right out of my mouth!! I felt the same way
back when I visited cuzco in 2001. The sadness was not visible in their face but rather on their childrens and as far as I know,the child is the reflection of the family as a whole.I remember staring at the picture I took and shredding it to pieces because I felt so bad. I also traveled to Manu as far as a tourist was allowed to go and it was an experience I will never forget. I hope one day to return when my kids are little older. On the other hand, how would the machigenga
continue to be “somewhat” protected by the goverment if people
like me continue to return? I don’t know.
Peru is a third word country and people are desperate to make money, now do you blame them?I lived there until I was 9 and then relocated to the USA, but I know how it is to live there and the desperation people go through to make ends meet. I mean here in the states we are going through an economy crisis that people cannot and do not know how to handle but yet in countries like peru they have been living like this for years.
You know unfortunately it all boils down to money, it did 500 years ago and it still does till this day. My point is that there is more money in tourism,oil pipelines and so forth and unfortunately these so called “goverment protected” tribes like the machigenga have to
pay the price. I was furious on the episode of the colonista who came and suggested paying a “sol” for one of the little girs and literally laughing in the father’s face. seriously I couldn’t sleep that night , no wonder this people take justice into their own hands.
It is upsetting,everything is , the history and what is currently happening. At the same time as a peruvian I can’t keep living hating the Spaniards, or continueto be resentful with the goverment nor be scare with the abuses that keeps going on. We have to keep on moving and so we do.
I remember recently visiting my grandfather in Lima and I commented to him how it was kind of comical to see the “limenos” always walking fast, as if they needed to catch a plane,and he said
” Karin Peruvians are always on the go, yesterday we could of lost a job, friend,a father, a mother, a child, but we will always manage to arise from our worst despairs and keep on moving because that is what we do.”
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:30 pm
This episode hit me on a personal level almost a week after it aired. On Friday I had occasion to be at what used to be my grandparent’s farm. I hadn’t been there in a very long time. Some of you might recall from an earlier posting of mine what that place has meant in my life. On the drive up I was happy to be on my way there. Friday was everything the first day of spring should be in Vermont, sunny, warm and gorgeous. I was thinking, “It doesn’t get much better than this, sunshine, open road, my iPod”. My mood started to shift the closer I got to the farm. As I headed down the hill on the main road into the village, there were several new houses dotting the former fields. I was surprised to see them, yet a little happy that my little town seemed to be surviving. It all changed when I rounded the bend just before my grandparent’s road. In the distance I could see their big red barn, but just beyond it the old grey barn was gone. As I got closer, the horse barn was gone, there was a house in my favorite meadow. The sugar house, which should have had maple-scented steam pouring out of its gills was falling in on itself. There were new sheds and garages all over the place. I got out of my car and stood at all that remained of the old grey barn, its field stone foundation. Everywhere I turned I was confronted with the vision of what things had become and I could not reconcile it with my memory of how things were. I stood there, staring at the stone foundation, its windows and door still in place, but nothing on top of it. It was as if someone had come along and with a puff of breath, blew the rest of it away. All I could see, in my mind’s eye and through my tears, was how it had been on a winter’s night when I was a kid. I could see my uncle and I feeding hay to the dozen or so cows this tiny barn held. The stone walls were white washed inside. Sitting on top of a grain bin was Mr. Spock, a ratty looking old grey tiger cat.
I bent down and picked up a small stone, a little piece of barn board and an old nail then got back in my car. I thought, “It’s true. You really can’t go home again”. Then I thought about Jose and the outside world at his door. I wondered how long he will be able to hang onto his way of life.
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:14 am
Hi Olly,
I’ve been watching your documentary of “Mark and Olly Living with the Machigenga” since day one. I was hooked immediately. I missed the majority of last Sunday documentary (and was very disappointed) but I did catch the trade. I thought those ladies were relentless in pointing out everything wrong with the coffee beans and the cotton just to pay as little as they could. It’s been rough seeing you and Mark getting the blame for bringing evil spirits into their village. I think it was very sweet of Mark to heal and raise the baby monkey. Will the baby monkey be kept as a pet once you leave the village or will they later kill it for food when it becomes an adult? What has it been like for you eating grubs and monkey and drinking beer made from spit? When you are drinking their beer, do you think about the fact that you are drinking someone else’s spit?
I felt heaviness in my heart when it was uncertain whether or not they would kill that new born baby if it had birth defects and I could see the battle you were having with your own moral issue’s but at the same time I could understand how they couldn’t afford to have a mentally challenged or handicapped child in their village as it would be difficult to raise that child just to have it die at a young age in the end.
I appreciate the work you and Mark are doing. It gives us people an understanding of how these indenginous people live. I’ve seen some people mention that they live in paradise but I don’t see it that way. I see that their lives are very hard and they have to fight for survival everyday and they are faced with challenges that civialized people couldn’t even comprehend what that way of life consists of. Everyone can sit here and say Oh that must be hard or why don’t they just learn to live in civilization but the truth is, is that they could never comprehend it unless they lived it.
Thank you for taking us into the lives of the Machiganga and showing us the reality of these people’s lives. Your doing a great job and I loved your blog.
When I knew about the episode that you and Mark were going to have to compete against the guy that wanted to marry the Chiefs daughter, I thought for sure that you guys wouldn’t try that hard as it wouldn’t make any sense for any of you to win because you wouldn’t be able to take her hand in marriage and I was shocked to see that Mark put a real effort in each challenge that was given to you guys. Then Mark won. It’s a good thing he couldn’t speak their language. Which leads me to another question for you. Obviously you had to have a translator. What effort does it take for you to find a translator that will stay with you throughout your documentary? I got to watch what it took to be invited to stay with the tribe but what does it take to even be able to get to the tribe in the first place?
One other thing before I go. I know you had to tell Jose about your life as a man and you said you had one girlfriend. I think you are absolutely adorable and I think your girlfriend is very lucky to have you. I am looking forward to seeing your replies to my questions if I’m lucky enough to hear from you.
I’m glad you have made it through another adventure alive and I can’t wait to see your next documentary. And kudos to the camera crew.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Because of their “a man has to have sex every day” rule, i have to ask: Do you have to endure hearing that go on in their huts?
March 24th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Abby, thank you for the nice comment about my kids. They are wonderful kids. I think my oldest son looks similar to Sahvano.
Sara, I’m sorry the farm visit didn’t turn out like you expected. I did some traveling yesterday myself. I went to Tahlequah OK and visited the Trail of Tears Museum. That was a site to see. Our tour guide took us around a villiage of how the Cherokee used to live. They called their hut an “Ocie” which I found interesting since my grandmother’s name was Ocie Oler but they called her Ola and my aunt’s name was Ocie. My daughters, my mom and my cousin Lois went. We had a great time. They had a tree that they had burnt a hole in to make a canoe. It reminded me of Mark helping to make the canoe. Our guide said that he and two other men took out a canoe like that one that was 15 feet long. He said that the canoe sank all but 3 inches from the top. I was thinking to myself that the canoe that Mark and Olly were on must have been much better than the Cherokee canoe.
March 25th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Samantha,
Thank you for your thoughts. I would love to go to the Trail of Tears Museum. I think it would be fascinating. Western Indian history and culture are very interesting to me, maybe because it so different from my own. A couple of years ago my daughter and a friend and I drove from Vermont to Los Angeles. Highlights of that trip were Dinosaur National Park and Capital Reef National Park (both in Utah) where I saw petroglyphs for the first time. A long story, but antelope came to mean a lot to me on that whole voyage. I was absolutely delighted to see an antelope petroglyph at Capital Reef. I took a picture of it and when I got back home had tattoo of it put on the top of my left foot (yes, that hurt like a b#stard!). It is my favorite tattoo. I think if I had been on the Machigenga adventure, I would have commemorated it with a tattoo of the “Good Machigenga” face that Jacinto showed to Mark.
The canoe you mentioned seeing makes me think of the Adirondack guide boats used in that region in upstate New York, They are very wide and sit very low in the water, only a couple of inches above it. When I was a kid we had friends who had a camp in that region and we would visit during the summer. I remember one year when “Papa” (as we kids all called him) took my mom and I out in a guide boat one morning before breakfast. I was about 5 and couldn’t swim yet (but I did have a life vest on). Anyway, we got snagged on some tree stumps that were under the water. I was pretty freaked out as we tried to free ourselves without taking on any water. Eventually, we did break free (obviously!).
Sara M
P.S. Very nice job on the tribute video!
March 27th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Sorry for the delay in answering your questions:
Lissa: The San Story: Not sure what’s happened to the second half of that film – Here’s another link – http://oliversteeds.com/journalist/the-san-story/ – For the latest on their situation please check them out via Survival International. Thanks so much for the UN Link – I would love to make a film about the successes and struggles of various indigenous women, although I cant help but feel that it would be better handled by a woman – so I’ll do my best to facilitate some women I know to undertake these investigations. Already have a couple of ideas in the pipelines, so will keep you posted. I find one of the weakest points of these tribal immersive experiences is that we, as 2 blokes, will only ever get a glimpse into one side of tribal life.
Lissa: Sports? Well I love a bit of football, but rugby is my favourite sport – although I aint played for a few years. Having said that, I think petty sports is where I’m now at in life: bowling, ping pong, pool, darts, even boule. There is great joy to be had in taking activities like these with the level of seriousness of professional sportsmen. Very silly.
Emily K: Other indigenous groups: You’re right. I wish there would be a broadcaster who would be interested in the plight of the tribes. But occasionally I manage to get the odd film away – Bushmen in Botswana, Sami Reindeer Herders in Lapland, Tuareg in Niger (should be links in the journalist section if you’re interested). But don’t get off your soapbox! There are too few people passionate about these subjects and we should all be shouting loudly about it. It is truly horrific what has happened to indigenous people in the last 100 years, let alone the last 500 years with the Spanish…. And it’s still going on and on our watch. There is no excuse, we are all stakeholders in this world and have a duty of care and responsibility to each other and our planet, for ourselves and for future generations.
Samantha: Youtube! Wow. Well don’t know really what to say apart from the obvious… thank you so much for going to such great lengths. Amazed and touched, thank you. And love the song – seems to fit wonderfully well with so many memories. So sweet of you to make it. Thank you xx
Jessica: Live Chat? Unfortunately Travel Channel no longer have the ability to host live chats so it wont be happening any time soon. Sorry!
Angela: Kombai journals: sadly I don’t have any Kombai journals for posting. I wrote a journal (more like a book) at the time for the woman I was deeply in love with and gave it to her. Sadly we are no longer together and whilst she gave to them, I’ve never been able to open those journals again. Perhaps one day I will and I’ll let you know when I do.
Martin: adjusting: Yeah, it’s a bit tricky – good days and bad like anyway – if you get a chance, my journal from episode explains what happens inside my head on a bad day! Otherwise, it’s just a case of getting through it – there’s no way out, so I try to focus on the good things in life instead of the bad. Usually does the trick!
Karin: Che! And Peru: Oh, not sure quite what to say about being compared to Che. He had some inspirational times of his life and some shocking and horrific things he was involved in. Thank you for sharing your insight from your visits to Peru and South America. You’re incredibly lucky to get to Manu. We heard so much about it – would love to go. Any plans for you to go back? If you do, try and look in on the Machigenga.
March 27th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Olly,
The Kombai journals…..what a tragedy.I’m really sorry. I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason. I believe that when we go through rough times in our lives or experience some sort of loss it builds character and helps form us in such a way to make us a perfect “fit” for the person we are to share the rest of our lives with, that’s if you haven’t met that person already. I’m hoping you already did.
On a more personal note however, I can say that I have experienced my own hardships and tragedies in my life before finding my husband. When I was only 15 years old I was diagnosed with Lupus. At 18 years old I decided I was no longer ill and stopped taking all medication. I moved away from home traveled and did some Equestrian Show Jumping. I engaged in the typical 18 year old social activities that I can’t quite say I’m proud of, but I did. By 21 became very ill from not following through with my medical regimen and was put on several cycles of chemotherapy. I did this while working and putting myself through school and most importantly keeping up with the college social life.:)
I’m 33 years old now healthy and am married to the most amazing man on the planet! We have a rambunctious 2 year old little boy that keeps us on our toes and reminds us a lot of your Giana the monkey the way he talks,points and climbs on everything. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I would do it all over again and more if I had to just to be with my husband now. He’s everything to me, he’s my muse. Anyway, thanks for letting me share.
You have so much to offer, you just have to find the right woman who will truly appreciate your talents and is worthy of it, if you haven’t already. Wishing you all the love and happiness you deserve.
p.s. My 2 year old would love for you to teach him the special talent of eating bugs!
March 28th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Olly, you’re welcome for the UN link and thank you for the Bushmen’s. I’ll definitely watch the second half of the film. Yes, do keep us posted when you’ve done the film on indigenous women. I’m sure many would agree that you are doing a great job in investigating and sharing with us the stories of the tribes’ women (the power behind the throne…as you mentioned before). It doesn’t matter what sports you’re involved in as long as you’re having fun.