In the heavily forested foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes lives uwíshin (healer) Alejandro Tsakimp. He was first exposed to healing practices when he was cured in the womb by a healer. Later he actively pursued this knowledge in the hopes of curing his father, another uwíshin, who was ill from witchcraft. His father’s death in 1990 created conflict among his heirs, who were the first generation of Shuar to inherit property. Tsakimp’s family fiercely competed for the property and eventually accused one another of witchcraft and parricide.

ALEJANDRO TSAKIMP is a Shuar traditional healer, cattle owner, and one of the founders of the Shuar Federation, which he has repeatedly served in an official capacity.