Beekeeping with Indigenous People in the Amazon

Tarkis nimbly separated the delicate brood layers of a colony, expertly narrating her process to the three cameras trained on her every move. Alongside her 15-year-old daughter, together they adeptly demonstrated and patiently explained the crucial steps for multiplying stingless bee colonies in a series of six video tutorials we produced in collaboration with Maijuna beekeepers. In total, 15 Maijuna stingless beekeepers took center stage in these tutorials, created primarily for aspiring rural Amazonian beekeepers to learn directly from their peers. 

We produced nearly 1.5 hours of in-depth instruction to equip beekeepers with the basics of stingless bee husbandry in the Peruvian Amazon. These educational tools guide viewers through the intricacies of stingless beekeeping covering everything from the social structure of a colony to managing and multiplying hives to pest control and, ultimately, the sustainable harvesting of honey.

We are as enthusiastic about the process as we are the product. Together with the Maijuna beekeepers we created the storyboard and validated the educational points. Over three weeks we filmed with the beekeepers from three different communities to carefully document their expertise. We incorporated stunning scenes from daily life that the beekeepers deemed representative. This approach ensures that both the Maijuna and new beekeepers in other communities can visually connect with the screen, seeing themselves alongside their bees and expertise.

The videos are already being used to accelerate learning. Aspiring beekeepers throughout the region are referencing the videos as they practice management techniques. The integration of these videos into theoretical and practical workshops enhances the learning experience, providing additional reinforcement to learning objectives. Now published on YouTube and OnePlanet’s website, the tutorials are widely available and people in rural communities are able to watch the videos thanks to the increasing availability of smart phones and satellite internet. These tools are effectively extending the reach and impact of our community-based stingless beekeeping project and the conservation of native bee diversity.

Thanks to you as well as all of our collaborating institutions for supporting the stingless beekeepers in the Amazon. A special acknowledgement of ACEER, Uare Yojuna, La Restinga, Explorama, Camino Verde, and Troubled Genius Media. Each of your contributions made these videos a reality, ultimately helping to magnify the impact of the Maijuna’s environmentally and economically sustainable work. Please enjoy the videos and share!  

Links:

• Enjoy the videos on our website!
• Find the tutorials on YouTube, too!

Maijuna beekeepers set out from their communities in the rainforest and journeyed two days to participate in Peru’s inaugural Stingless Beekeeping Conference this past July. Seven Maijuna beekeeping promoters, one elder knowledge keeper and I travelled to the mountainous city of Tarapoto. After years of successful beekeeping, these Maijuna were ready to share their story on the national stage and learn from the diverse experiences of other participants. 

All the Maijuna beekeepers were eager to contribute to our presentation during the conference, so we took the stage together! Between the nine of us, we shared the Maijuna ceremonial bee dance and presented a sampling of Maijuna ecological knowledge about the bees, the development of the stingless beekeeping school and the honey harvest. 

We heard from eminent scientists and dedicated beekeepers representing Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru who shared their insights on a wide range of topics, spanning agrochemicals’ impact on native bees, techniques for combating parasites and evidence that the Incas and previous Quechua cultures were stingless beekeepers!

Remarkably, following the Maijuna's presentation, each subsequent lecture for the next two days made specific mention of the Maijuna and their beekeeping skills. The Maijuna's profound knowledge and well-organized association made an indelible mark, earning them recognition as leaders in stingless beekeeping in the Peruvian Amazon.

During the event we learned how to make a medicinal extract from a resinous material bees produce, propolis, that is prized for its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties and for its amino acid composition. Seeing that many fellow “meliponicultores” focus on keeping different genera of bees inspired the Maijuna to diversify their hives to include other species that exist in the forest to increase production and harvest even more varied honeys.

The Maijuna beekeepers returned to their home communities and are already sharing the techniques that they learned with their neighbors. During the conference the Maijuna beekeepers celebrated their experience and achievements while learning that stingless bees provide many more opportunities and there is much yet to discover. Your support helps us to continue to grow the stingless beekeeping school!