The Ucayali basin of the Peruvian Amazona is the original territory of the Shipibo-Konibo. Once two distinct tribes, the Shipibo (monkeymen) and the Konibo (fishermen) merged their cultures through intertribal marriage and communal union.

The Shipibo-Konibo are a Pano speaking Indigenous group of about 45,000 individuals who dwell on the shores of the Ucayali River. Today, most communities are organized in villages of about 100-2000 inhabitants.

In the Shipibo-Konibo language, MAI means EARTH + KAYA means SPIRIT

MAI KAYA represents the Spirit of the Earth that originates from

the Shipibo-Konibo Culture through their Cosmovision, Craft

and Medicine Traditions practiced since the beginning

of time + preserved to this day.

Following many generations of discrimination as Colonial systems of religion led to separation between the villagers, various Shipibo-Konibo communities strive to uphold their ‘ethnic identity’ and ‘Indigenous traditions’ to this day. The quality of intact knowledge passed on is being affected by the logging, fishing and tourism industry, as well as from the continual political, governmental and environmental struggles they face.

Despite the challenges, the Spirit of their peoples carry unfathomable resilience as they receive strength to persevere from their Ancient Medicine System through Plant Healing Technology and Activism through their Traditional Crafts.

A collective of Cultural Education + Preservation, MAI KAYA serves as a Living Library for Ancestral Knowledge and Wisdom told directly by a Shipibo-Konibo family lineage.

Our commitment is to offer an accessible online archive of their Traditional Lifeways to reach the Heart of Humanity with a vision to evolve and return to being in Harmony with Earth + Spirit through the cross-cultural understanding of the Shipibo-Konibo.

Shipibo Living Library + Kené Store

IS NOW LIVE