After more than a year of working side by side, today we had to say goodbye to our dear Tsimane’ co-researchers. As experts in the traditional knowledge of their territory, they were the bridge between cultures. They have mediated between different epistemic systems and taught us their values and ways of relating to the environment and the world. Without their excellent work, we would not have been able to engage in deep conversations with the Tsimane’ people and understand their rich culture.
In addition, they have collected essential data by conducting wildlife transects through the forest, gathering plants and soil samples, and transcribing, translating, and analyzing conversations, songs, and stories. In addition to being translators and co-researchers, they are cooks, canoeists, artists, teachers, carpenters, and much more. They have welcomed us and guided us through their ancestral and historic territory in a masterful way (to be honest, without these people we wouldn’t have survived even two days in the Amazon forest). We couldn’t be more honored and grateful to have worked alongside them. Hopefully, very soon, they will be the lead researchers and principal investigators of their culture and territory.
A million thanks to Nely, Carola, Isidoro, Salomón, Martín, Darío, Manuel, Santa, Ofir, and Lainer. Yushrupai!
