The Jakon Rate Center for Shipibo-Konibo Studies

The Jakon Rate Center is a multigenerational association that aims to provide an educational space for the Shipibo-Konibo and their allies to practice, learn and advance the application of their Indigenous worldview, wisdom, language and customs to live in balance with the jakon nete - ‘the life-giving good world.’ Our association serves as a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern practice, fostering cultural exchange in addition to environmental stewardship. 

Latest Updates: 

1. Upcoming Completion of Manuela’s Home
• We are excited to announce the nearing completion of Manuela’s home! With initial construction having begun in December of 2022 we have been actively fundraising to complete her permanent home. Our team has nearly finished the first floor, including her bedroom and private bathroom, and also have begun constructing the second floor. Her long awaited home is set to reach completion by the end of July. 
2. Manuela’s Health 
• Manuela’s health has been steadily improving over the past year. She has been regularly interacting with students and maintains high spirits. We have been continuing to nurture her recovery through more periods of rest, physical rehabilitation and attendance to her overall health & well-being. 
3. Environmental Conservation - Pacha Nishi
• This past January, we launched Pacha Nishi, an ongoing project with the goal of planting 200,000 nishi (Banisteriopsis caapi) in addition to companion trees to help establish an ongoing and sustainable source of nishi for future generations while also restoring the natural diversity of fungal, plant and animal habitats. 

The Jakon Rate Center continues to thrive in its mission to preserve Indigenous wisdom, contribute to environmental conservation, and provide a space of learning to all. We are grateful to our supporters, donors, staff, and community for their dedication and commitment to our shared vision.

Thank you for your ongoing support and belief in the continuation of traditional Shipibo-Konibo culture!

The mission of our project Pacha Nishi (100 Linanas) is to create a growing and sustainable source of plants that provide opportunities for healing and living in balance with the planet. Our values are rooted in reciprocity with our mother earth, restoring healthy forests, supporting cultural resilience of ancestral lineage and the continuity of ancient healing practices.

In 2023 we began planning an ambitious new initiative that launched in January 2024. Like many hundreds of thousands of hectares in the Peruvian Amazon Basin, the land we steward at Jakon Rate has experienced clearing at some point in the past century and as a result, much of the forest consists of dense bamboo, heliconia, and other potentially invasive species of plants with few tall trees. As our community develops trails, establishes gardens, and lives with the land we see gradual changes to the ecosystem but our vision is to accelerate the regeneration of native diversity and cultivate the sacred medicines for a sustainable future, for the Jakon Rate community, for surrounding Shipibo-Konibo communities, and for the planet. 

We are driven to cultivate an abundance of high-quality, sustainable locally sourced, and affordable forestry products to serve personal and collective healing and to help ease the pressure on wild harvesting as demand for these sacred plants continues to grow. To achieve this at an optimal scale, it’s essential that we reforest and restore degraded jungle habitat and create economic opportunities for local and Indigenous residents, farmers, and landowners in the Peruvian rainforest.

Recent Planting in the Rainy Season

We have planted lianas on the 300+ existing companion trees throughout Jakon Rate community lands while creating an experimental plot with over 400 new trees planted. The project is utilizing our newly completed nursery, through a collaboration with Alianza Arkana, which is now providing an ideal space to to germinate seeds, propagate cuttings, and maintain a continued supply of teacher plants and companion trees. 

Establishing a tall canopy of native hardwood trees not only supports tall and healthy lianas but also, by creating shade and leaf litter, supports regeneration of healthy soil, numerous other smaller trees and plants, and will attract native animals. For these reasons, we initiated several experiments to learn more about optimal conditions for new tree and liana growth in degraded soil. 

There are 15 varieties of trees have been selected for a variety of reasons including their rapid growth rate, mature height, strength of the wood, and associated nitrogen fixers. We are also experimenting with growing beneficial linanas laterally along a horizontal stand of trees. 

Next Steps

While monitoring the continued growth of our secondary forests along with our experimental plots, we will test soil conditions, measure light conditions, monitor tree varieties, and measure water requirements to optimize growth and survival over the short and long term. We will also assess the impact on subsequent liana growth, survival, and reproduction under varied conditions such as orientation to the host tree, light availability, and soil conditions. Data will be collected regularly with comprehensive analyses done annually. 

Please write to colaboraciones@jakonrate.org for more information and if you have a desire to support or get involved with the Pacha Nishi project.