RIBERALTA’S UNTOLD HISTORY

THE UNTOLD STORY OF RIBERALTA

AND THE AMAZONIAN IDENTITY

According to the standard written history of Riberalta, Amazonian Bolivia began

after the arrival of rubber prospectors towards the end of the 19th century. Before
that, it was an “empty space”. This story effectively erases the presence of the
original inhabitants of the Bolivian Amazon. Few historians bothered to ask who
the ancestral inhabitants of
Riberalta were, and who
defended this territory from the
attacks of the last Incan warriors.
Through ethno-historic
investigation, anthropologist
Wigberto Rivero determined that
the area where the city of
Riberalta currently lies was once
populated by indigenous groups
of the Pano family; which belong
to the native Pacahuara,
Chacobos, Caripunas, Sinabos and Perintintin. The same peoples that, during
the decline of the Incan Empire, resisted and defeated an expedition that came
from Incan Capital in Cusco. A 2 hour boat ride from Riberalta down the
Amarumayu (Madre de Dios River) leads to center of this civilization in “Las
Piedras”. Remains of this culture, which developed agricultural and forest
conservation methods, can still be found today.
Nicolás Suárez Callaú set up a multinational rubber empire in South America at
the beginning of the 20th century.
The original name of the first human settlement in Riberalta was “Pamahuayá”;
meaning “place of the fruits”. While the name has since changed, this defining
feature continues: the area remains extremely rich in native fruits such as the
motacu, majo and asai. This incredible biodiversity of flora is perhaps most
pronounced within the nearby Aquicuana Reserve. Wild edible-fruit trees grow
throughout the reserve. Furthermore, ceramics and other instruments used by
indigenous peoples, who resisted the invasion of the rubber traders, can be
found on the banks of the Aquicuana Lake.

THE INDIGENOUS PHILOSOPHY

AND THE AMAZONIAN IDENTITY
Indigenous philosophies managed to make rational use of nature and are
credited with inventing agriculture and animal husbandry. Thanks to such
“inventions”, human settlements flourished. It is within this context that the
Amazon maintains a privileged ecological space. Its
forests creates much of the pure oxygen used by
the planet and its biodiversity contributes to the
generation of energy sources, food and medicines.
Perhaps such contributions wouldn’t be available to
humanity today, if the population that originally
inhabited this region had not acted as guardians of
the forest and its natural resources.

Indigenous Amazonian peoples developed a

relationship with their natural settings which
enabled a humanely dignified existence. Their way
of life maintained and sustained a lasting ecological
balance. Today’s Amazonian identities were built on
the foundations of the cultural and ecological record
left by their indigenous brothers and sisters.
Unfortunately history DOES show the numerous atrocities inflicted upon them;
many exterminated through greed for natural resources and in the name of an
unjust “civilization”.
A true history of Riberalta must first begin with our indigenous ancestors. From
this historical base we can recognize the contributions of peoples from other
parts of the American continent and the world. The intermingling of this
indigenous and global culture, resulted in a rich and diverse Amazonian identity
that continues to flourish in Riberalta today.

Wigberto Rivero Pinto