Peruvian Ministry Finds, Identifies Unreached Tribes

A Peruvian ministry that lists 16 unreached native tribes says it has discovered three of them that were previously totally unknown.

Some missions experts might consider the newly discovered tribes, with tiny populations, not worth focusing on. But Segadores (Spanish for "reapers") takes seriously the Lord's commandment to make disciples of ALL nations.

The Yanachaguino tribe numbers only around 50 people, living in primitive, stone-age fashion. No churches exist among them, nor are any missionaries attempting to reach them with the gospel presently, Segadores told Christian Aid.

Another previously unknown group is the Curataco tribe, very small, with no Christians or missionary outreach. They roam the jungle, hunting and eating wild fruits. People became aware of them because they leave the jungle to steal salt and cooking utensils. They are called "Curatacos," but no one knows what they call themselves.

A third small group with no known Christian activity is the Cashibo del Pisqui tribe. Like the Curatacos, they have no houses or farms; they live naked, hunt, and eat wild fruits. Christians of the Shipibo tribe let Segadores know about them after a Shipibo hunter was almost shot by a naked Cashibo man wielding a bow and arrow.

The other 13 Peruvian tribes that Segadores considers to be unreached are the Huachipaeri, Cujareņos, Nanti, Cocama-Cocamilla, Amahuaca, Mashco-Piro, Chitonahuas, Yaminahua-Yora, Amarakaeri, Ese Ejja, Isconahuas, Asheninkas del Ucayali, and Mayo.

Over the years Segadores has refined a cross-cultural training program it calls ETAE (Entrenamiento Transcultural Alcanzando las Etnias--"cross-cultural training to reach the tribes"). Those who attend receive classroom training in cultural sensitivity: how to befriend a tribe that probably fears and distrusts outsiders and how to learn about them and their customs until the gospel can be presented in an intelligible way. Then the trainees embark upon an exposure trip to the jungle, where they learn survival skills: how to hunt and find food, build a raft, plant a field, and avoid dangers.

Dangers can come from the tribe itself, as one missionary, Rodrigo, discovered. When he and his guide reached the village of an unreached Ashaninka group attempting to make their first contact, he was nearly shot in the back with a bow and arrow by an Ashaninka warrior. The two visitors learned that several years earlier, a small group of terrorists came to the village claiming to be missionaries. They gathered all the villagers, then gunned them down in cold blood and marched off. The few survivors came to the conclusion, "Strangers are dangerous. We'd better kill them before they kill us."

Rodrigo persevered. The second time he returned to the village, he won the people's friendship and began to pick up the language. They agreed to welcome a missionary to stay in their village if Rodrigo would send one.

Three years later a Christian couple from another branch of the Ashaninkas agreed to move to the village. The husband came first and worked on the chief's farm, but didn't even receive food to eat. The labor and hunger were hard on his health.

Then the village council questioned why he wanted to come to their village, and almost expelled him. But a village woman reported that Jorge had treated her kindly and given her medicine. The village leaders were convinced and gave him a good piece of land and a house. The work Jorge faces is difficult, but he is willing to do what it takes to lead these Ashaninka people to the Savior.

This is the level of dedication required of those who would reach these three newly discovered people groups. Pray for missionaries willing to undertake the task. To learn more about this ministry write insider@christianaid.org and put MI-312 245-SEG on the subject line.