Paul Patrick Borhaug

Photographer

www.paulpatrickphotography.com

The Matsés

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Cesar Ushoe, a local chief of a small Matsés community.

A Matsés man is see...e to collect peach-palm fruit.

A Matsés man is seen climbing a palmtree to collect peach-palm fruit.

Two Matsés children...heir children again."

Two Matsés children are seen in front of the river that runs past their village of Santa Rosa.

"The river is as vital to our lives as our veins. Do the oil company not think we indians drink water", asks a Matsés woman collecting water nearby. "The river gives us drinking water and fish. The forest gives us food, medicine and building materials. This will secure the future of our children and their children again."

Tapiche.  A river so ...biodiverse areas in the world.

Tapiche. A river so full of minerals it reflects the overhanging rainforest in Tapiche - an area which is a proposed reserve for uncontacted indians living in voluntary isloation. It is also one of the most biodiverse areas in the world.

Caterpillar. A purple-haired c...living in voluntary isloation.

Caterpillar. A purple-haired caterpillar is seen in Tapiche - one of the most biodiverse areas in the world and an area which is a proposed reserve for uncontacted indians living in voluntary isloation.

A Matsés woman is se...t takes around 8 hours to make.

A Matsés woman is seen making a traditional drink that takes around 8 hours to make.

River Bend. A river bends thro...ic Rubiales holds concessions.

River Bend. A river bends through the Matsés National Reserve, where the infamous oil company Pacific Rubiales holds concessions.

A red-headed iguana in Tapiche...living in voluntary isloation.

A red-headed iguana in Tapiche - one of the most biodiverse areas in the world and an area which is a proposed reserve for uncontacted indians living in voluntary isloation.

A Matsés man is see...e on both sides of the border.

A Matsés man is seen paddling down the Javari river that constitutes the border between Peru and Brazil. The Matsés live on both sides of the border.

Plant Medicine . A Mats&ea...p;eacute; Amazon Conservation.

Plant Medicine. A Matsés man collects plant medicine. The Matsés are experts on forest plants and their remedial properties. Currently their knowledge of medicinal plants is being compiled in a book in co-operation with the organization Acaté Amazon Conservation.

Marina Ësheo Bai Unan.

"I do not wish for our men to go to war, but it is their responsibility to protect our territory."

River Bend. A river bends through the Matsés National Reserve, where the infamous oil company Pacific Rubiales holds concessions.

Rainforest area where uncontac...ic Rubiales holds concessions.

Rainforest area where uncontacted indians have been confirmed to live, and where the infamous oil company Pacific Rubiales holds concessions.

River. A river bends through t...ic Rubiales holds concessions.

River. A river bends through the Matsés titled territory, where the infamous oil company Pacific Rubiales holds concessions.

Children bathing in a river th...mmunity of Estirón.

Children bathing in a river that runs past the Matsés community of Estirón.

A Matsés girl is se...sa, close to the Javari river.

A Matsés girl is seen washing her clothes in a river that runs past her village of Santa Rosa, close to the Javari river.

Matsés girls in the village of Santa Rosa.

Fernando Shoque Uaqui Beso.

A Matsés man who is a spokesperson for the Matsés political organization in Peru, the Junta Directivo, is seen posing with a traditional spear. The Matsés say they will wage war against the oil company if they must, in order to protect their forest, rivers and "uncontacted brothers and sisters" living in voluntary isolation in the forest.

Daniel Vela Collantes,&nbs...the Matsés in Peru.

Daniel Vela Collantes, The chief of the Matsés in Peru.

A Matsés woman with... characteristic facial tattoo.

A Matsés woman with the Matsés characteristic facial tattoo.

A Matsés woman with...izes Matsés people.

A Matsés woman with traditional tattoo. Hers might be the last generation to carry on the ancient legacy of the female facial tattoo thay characterizes Matsés people.

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Thumbnail of Cesar Ushoe, a local chief of a small Matsés community.

Thumbnail of A Matsés man is seen_ee to collect peach-palm fruit.

Thumbnail of Two Matsés children _their children again."

Thumbnail of Tapiche.  A river so f_ biodiverse areas in the world.

Thumbnail of Caterpillar. A purple-haired ca_ living in voluntary isloation.

Thumbnail of A Matsés woman is see_at takes around 8 hours to make.

Thumbnail of River Bend. A river bends throu_fic Rubiales holds concessions.

Thumbnail of A red-headed iguana in Tapiche _ living in voluntary isloation.

Thumbnail of A Matsés man is seen_ve on both sides of the border.

Thumbnail of Plant Medicine . A Mats&eac_mp;eacute; Amazon Conservation.

Thumbnail of Marina  Ë she_rotect our territory."

Thumbnail of Rainforest area where uncontact_fic Rubiales holds concessions.

Thumbnail of River. A river bends through th_fic Rubiales holds concessions.

Thumbnail of Children bathing in a river tha_ommunity of Estirón.

Thumbnail of A Matsés girl is see_osa, close to the Javari river.

Thumbnail of Matsés girls in the village of Santa Rosa.

Thumbnail of Fernando Shoque Uaqui Beso. A M_untary isolation in the forest.

Thumbnail of Daniel Vela Collantes,&nbsp_ the Matsés in Peru.

Thumbnail of A Matsés woman with _s characteristic facial tattoo.

Thumbnail of A Matsés woman with _rizes Matsés people.

Public Project

The Matsés

Copyright Paul Patrick Borhaug 2024

Updated Sep 2015

Location Javari, Peru

Topics blood of the earth, Environmental, indigenous, Landscape, MatsÃ©s, matses, oil, Photojournalism, Portraiture, rainforest, Wildlife

The Matsés are an indigenous people whose territories are divided by the Brazil-Peru border in the remote Amazon. The tribe is currently experiencing a threat from multinational oil companies which are planning to drill for oil in the Matsés legally-titled 490,000 hectare indigenous territory. The tribe vehemently opposes the planned oil exploration and are prepared to fight companies with bows, arrows and spears to keep them out.

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Paul Patrick Borhaug

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