The VIsion

The Yakumamay Live Pharmacy wouldn’t exist without the dedication of Gilber Chufandana Tapullima, “Don Gilber.” Born in Chazuta, San Martín province in the Peruvian Upper Amazon, Gilber’s life journey was intertwined with medicinal plants from a young age. Following his military service, he settled in Iquitos and became a public health worker, a role he played all his life. Gilber’s father was a renowned plant shaman from a long lineage of Chazuta healers. In addition to this wealth of transmitted knowledge, Gilber indefatigably used his inquisitive mind to learn more about plants and to experiment with their applications. His insights into the benefits and limitations of mainstream healthcare while acting as a primary health worker motivated Gilbert to use his plant knowledge to care for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Shamanic plant medicine (vegetalismo) has been a popular component of health care in Western Amazonia since at least the 19th century.

Gilber established the YaKumamay garden/forest reserve with his sons and relatives. His inherited wisdom and leadership qualities drove him. He was inspired by Francisco Montes, creator of Sacha Mama (Km 23), the first shaman’s garden in Iquitos, and a shaman and painter of international repute.  Yet he had an original vision of his own.  Unlike botanical gardens, Yakumamay prioritises a local perspective. Here, plants are arranged based on their cultural significance and traditional uses. The layout reflects the holistic view of Amazonian shamans, where plants, animals, and the spirit world are interconnected. Yakumamay is named after the giant anaconda, the spirit grandmother of rivers presiding over all beings associated with water in the Amazonian cosmos.

In the tradition of his Kichwa ancestors, Don Gilber was an extraordinary plant man. Scientists occasionally sought his expertise to identify tree species and propagate plants. He enjoyed teaching his skills in mulching, creating plant nurseries in rotting tree trunks, and safely extracting sap or latex from trees. He ended up sharing his expertise with the trainers in a permaculture course he attended.