'The Wings of the Butterfly: A Tale of the Amazon Rainforest', retold by Aaron Shepard. This story was recorded in Curt Nimuendajú's book The Tukuna in 1952, evidently posthumously. Shepard tells us that "Nimuendajú spent altogether nearly a year with the Tukuna in the early 1940s, and most of what we know about the tribe comes from his excellent study." Briefly, the story tells of a girl named Chimidyue, who is lost in a forest and trying to get home. She seeks the aid of the forest animals, but they have little desire to help her. In addition, nothing in the forest is what it seems, but keeps changing into something else. In exasperation she exclaims, "I hate this forest! Nothing here makes any sense!" At that point a butterfly speaks kindly to her, and offers to guide her home. [Nimuendajú was the name given to anthropologist Curt Unkel (1883-1945) by some South American Indians whom he'd visited about 1906. He died somewhere North of the Amazon.]

'Flood Stories From Around the World', by Mark Isaak. Besides an Acawai flood story, many others from South American cultures may be found here too. The rest of the Americas are also represented along with other regions of the world. The Acawai story was taken from a work by Sir James Frazer, although which one is not entirely clear from the reference.

Unfortunately, it is not stated what role these 'tales' played in the lives of those that told & listened to them. Should all the stories be viewed as mythical, intended to convey to the listener some particular lesson, or were some perhaps intended merely for amusement? Many of the stories, most of which are Tukuna, are accompanied by an introduction or background. There are many themes. For example, 'The Culture Heroes, Part I-III', tell of the origin of Dyai' - the creator of Mankind & the originator of all laws & customs - the creation of Mankind itself, the origin of languages, and of fire, and the acquisition of cultivated plants.

In 1999 a team went to Ecuador to investigate the issue of an increase in tourism and the associated potential influence on the Huaorani culture and way of life. This page discusses the culture & beliefs of the Huaorani, whose territory traditionally extended from the Rio Napo in the North, to the Rio Curaray in the South. In 1956 they were the last of Ecuador's indigenous peoples to be contacted by missionaries. The Huaorani believe many uncontacted clans remain. Something is known of at least four of these, one of which is the Tagaeri, believed to have been briefly encountered by the expedition. A Huaorani creation myth is found in appendix 2.

It is suggested by Vicente Goyzueta, that for the Incan people anything that, by human standards, was powerful or difficult to understand was regarded as divine. The Puma and lightning are given as examples. Above all these and other deities, however, was Wiroqocha, who dominated the "three worlds of the ancient Peruvian cosmovision." Nevertheless, it was Inti, the Sun God, who was the favourite of the Incas. Indeed, the Inca King was regarded as the "Only Son of the Sun", and it was Inti's temples that are said to have dominated the religious landscape. The present representatives of Andean religion are said to be the Paqo, who have different hierarchies of priesthood. In the wake of modern commercialism, however, Goyzueta seems pessimistic about the future of the Andean ancestral religion.

Contents page listing many South American cultures. There appears to be little discussion, however, of religious beliefs. Nevertheless, there is some very interesting cultural information. One of the indigenous groups discussed, the Yanomamo of the Amazon Basin, it is said "are believed to be the most primitive, culturally intact people in existence in the world." Various cultural characteristics have evidently been dated back 8000 years.

'The South American Indians: Piranhas in Everyday Life'. In the flood zones of the Orinoco, Indians may confer upon Piranhas the role of undertaker. The Tucuna (Tukuna/Tikuna) & Aweti also wear Piranha teeth in their dancing masks, and carry wooden imitations of Piranha on their heads.

A concordance of South American gods categorized by function.

A Brief introduction to the Arawak Indians, by Andrea Kielbasa. Themes include 'Location', 'Language', 'History', & 'Daily Life'. It is noted that some Arawak tribes have been extinct for centuries, others much reduced in numbers, for various reasons. Among the references is a link to Irving Rouse's brief but informative essay entitled 'Arawak Indians', which associates the "true Arawak" with Trinidad & the Guianas, explored by the British in the late 16th century.

This page provides brief discussions on location, livelihood, pharmacology, tsantsa (head-shrinking), & shamanism. Further discussions on the Jivaro & Shuar are provided via links within the text. Among these are images of the Shuar & their housing, & an essay by Elke Mader entitled 'Deviance, Conflict, and Power in Shuar-Achuar Society'.

An On-line Exhibit of the Riverside Municipal Museum' in California. In section I it is suggested that the Jivaro may have acquired their practice of head-shrinking from the earlier Nazca & Moche cultures. The significance of this practice is explained in section III in terms of the Jivaro concept of the three human souls. In section II a brief discussion of Jivaro culture is given, whilst section IV examines the process of head-shrinking, & finally section V discusses Jivaro warfare.