Pichis Asheninka in Peru


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Ashéninka Pichis are an indigenous people group living in the Peruvian Amazon. Historically, they have had tense interactions with outsiders, suffering enslavement and devastating epidemics during the 20th century rubber boom and defending themselves from terrorist groups in the early 1990s. In spite of great cultural changes, they have maintained their language and traditional dress to the present day.

The Ashéninka Pichis have had some exposure to the gospel since churches and mission agencies began working among them in the 1920s and 30s. Since then, the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) and Modern Day have translated the Bible into the Ashéninka Pichis dialect. Currently various mission agencies continue Bible storying and leadership development. Seventh Day Adventists have also had a considerable influence in the region. However, fewer than ten Ashéninka Pichis villages have churches, which are in early stages of development. A few discipleship groups meet to hear chronological Bible stories, but the majority of participants are not believers.


Where Are they Located?

The Ashéninka Pichis live in the central jungle of Peru along the Pichis and Apurucayali Rivers.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The people live a daily subsistence lifestyle connected to the land, collecting enough food for 1-2 days and continually working hard to produce new food supplies. They typically work in manioc fields during the morning and rest during the afternoons. At night, the men will often go hunting or fishing. They prefer small family units to large communities and live in simple homes with a thatch roof, no walls, and a dirt floor. Their traditional clothing is a long cotton dress with vertical stripes for men and horizontal stripes for women, and red face paint is common.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Ashéninka Pichis hold to animistic views that seek to discover spiritual causes for life problems and resolve them through shamanistic rituals. Shamanism is particularly strong among the Ashéninka Pichis, where the people are accustomed to viewing the shaman as a helpful doctor and using plants not only for their medicinal qualities but also for their magical qualities. The Ashéninka Pichis fear the spirit world, as they believe all spirits are evil and intent on causing harm. Animism presents a strong challenge to church planting, as new believers often mix their previous worldview with Christianity and attempt to live out both realities.


What Are Their Needs?

The greatest need of the Ashéninka Pichis is for more gospel workers and further evangelism and Bible teaching in their own language. Since their culture is not oriented around academic ways of learning, the Ashéninka Pichis need more work with interactive, participatory Bible learning in order for the gospel to take root and bear fruit among the villages. While a few mission workers are training leaders and adults, no mission work has been done for children, so there is currently a need for additional work among all demographics and particularly children.

Alcoholism plays a major role in the culture and leads to a host of other problems. Asheninka Pichis believers need the power to change their lives and turn away from the control of alcohol.

Additionally, the Ashéninka Pichis need greater access to healthcare and education. Because of their remote location, their medicinal and educational resources are still very limited.


Prayer Points

Please pray for the Ashéninka Pichis to receive more discipling and Christian teaching so
they can learn the truths of Scripture for themselves.
Pray that God's Spirit would be drawing more of the Ashéninka Pichis to know Him personally.
Pray that God would put in the hearts of the believers a passion to know the Lord more intimately and to reach their own people with the gospel.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to empower Asheninka Pichis believers to turn away from alcoholism and demonstrate a changed life.


Scripture Prayers for the Asheninka, Pichis in Peru.


Profile Source:   Modern Day, Segadores, and Pioneers  

People Name General Asheninka, Pichis
People Name in Country Asheninka, Pichis
Natural Name Pichis Asheninka
Alternate Names Asheninca; Asheninca Campa; Asheninca Kampa; Campa; Perene
Population this Country 16,000
Population all Countries 17,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 10452
ROP3 Code 100554
ROP25 Code 300529
ROP25 Name Asheninca
Country Peru
Region America, Latin
Continent South America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Pasco region: Pichis river and tributaries except Apurucayali.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Peru
Region America, Latin
Continent South America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Pasco region: Pichis river and tributaries except Apurucayali..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 8.70 %)
9.70 %
Ethnic Religions
90.30 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Asheninka, Pichis (16,000 speakers)
Language Code cpu   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Asheninka, Pichis (16,000 speakers)
Language Code cpu   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Asheninka, Pichis
Photo Source Jesus Is The Way Ministries 
Profile Source Modern Day, Segadores, and Pioneers 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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