Observations placeholder
Graham Townsley – Yaminahua - Yoshi
Identifier
011601
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Yaminawa (Yaminahua) is a Panoan language of western Amazonia.
Yaminawa constitutes an extensive dialect cluster. Attested dialects are two or more Brazilian Yaminawa dialects, Peruvian Yaminawa, Chaninawa, Chitonawa, Mastanawa, Parkenawa (= Yora or "Nawa"), Shanenawa (Xaninaua, = Katukina de Feijó), Sharanawa (= Marinawa), Shawannawa (= Arara), Yawanawa, Yaminawa-arara (obsolescent; very similar to Shawannawa/Arara), Nehanawa†)
Very few Yaminawá people speak Spanish or Portuguese, though the Shanenawa have mostly shifted to Portuguese
A description of the experience
Graham Townsley – Song Paths [The Ways and Means of Yaminahua Shamanic knowledge]
The central images dominating the whole field of Yaminahua shamanic knowledge is that of Yoshi – spirit or inanimate essence. In Yaminahua thought, all things in the world are animated and given their particular qualities by Yoshi