A Discussion of the Ache Culture

A Discussion of the Ache Culture

Life History and Subsistence Strategies among Ache Hunter-Gatherers
Dillon Anderson
Salt Lake Community College

A Discussion of the Ache Culture

2
Abstract

For my research paper I have decided to study and learn about the Ache of Eastern Paraguay. In this
paper I will discuss the Ache life history and the ways that their culture might have changed over the
years, and the modern ecological studies that will give a good idea of why the changes were made in
their culture. Some of the questions that I had pertaining to the Ache would be their differences in
society compared to the American dream that we live in; do many people survive to old age? Do they
always live in small groups? Do they compare to our lifestyle choices? Do they live in a society that has a
gap between social statuses (Rich and poor gap)? How are the children of the Ache raised? I will also
discuss strategies among Ache Hunter-Gatherers of Eastern Paraguay, (Hurtado 1985/ Hill 1983) and I
will research some of the questions that I have asked and show the methods, and results to help me
have a better understanding of this culture. I learned recently from a good source that the Ache of
Eastern Paraguay are one of the main producers of Yerba Mate, which is the leafs of the Holly tree;
which are naturally caffeinated, and nourishing that can be made into a tea that I enjoy consuming
whilst parched. I will conclude the paper by discussing my personal beliefs in the Ache, and the respect
that primitive societies deserve. Also I will talk about the company Guayaki, and the reason they won
the 2004 Socially Responsible Business Award and their self-imposed Care Ethics and I will discuss my
own personal beliefs about it. Before this paper I didnt know anything at all about this culture, nor
about the story of Guayaki. I learned a lot from researching this culture, not only did I learn about the
history of it. But also learning about the trade and exporting of Yerba Mate around the world. It has
been a pleasure taking your class. Thank you so much!

A Discussion of the Ache Culture

Introduction
So who is the Ache? They are an indigenous group that is living in Eastern-Paraguay that is located in
Central South America, and a long time ago they were pushed away from their homes close to rivers,
and open lands by the Guarani. They then moved to more forested areas of Eastern-Paraguay where
they adapted the nomadic lifestyle still seen to this day.
The Ache usually relies on their natural environment for all of the resources that they use. Including the
construction of their home, toys, tools, and also eating utensils. The Ache has a very interesting diet, and
it consists mostly of meat, honey, and probably Yerba Mate. (Hill et al. 1984) states that The Ache
economy is centered around hunting mammalian game with bow and arrow, extracting wild honey, and
exploiting palm starch and insect larvae. Meat contributes about 60% of the calories in the diet. Besides
not extracting our own wild honey, palm starch, and insect larvae, they do maintain a fairly good diet
that could closely resemble our own American diet, as we do also consume a vast amount of meat. Also
the average person consumes around 2700 calories per day which is pretty good concerning that the
U.S. government recommended calorie intake for a 22 year old male like me is 2400, so I really hope
they do eat well. The funny thing about their diet is that pal starch is actually the most important
carbohydrate in their diet. Depending on if the inside of the tree is deemed edible, you can remove the
heart and use it to make hot porridge or cold pudding.

One thing that I Really enjoyed learning about the ache is that they are probably one of the most selfless
people in the world, due to the fact that food has to be shared between members of each society. This is
a good way to improve the healthiness of the society and possibly avoid disease. But even in a culture

A Discussion of the Ache Culture

such as the aches primitive society, there are ones who happen to be less fortunate than others.
(Hill/Hurtado, 1996) says Daily life among forest-living Ache was (and still is) centered around the food
quest. Men hunt for about seven hours per day. And Men provided about 87% of the calories in the
diet on forest treks that we monitored, and most of these calories came from meat. But (Hurtado et al.
1985) also says Women often extract the fiber from palm trees, as well as gather assorted fruits and
insect larvae, spending about two hours per day collecting food on forest days that we monitored. It is
pretty interesting to see that both family party members due their share to put food on the table, one is
of course (in a primitive setting) a more masculine roll in hunting for animals, especially since it accounts
for about 60% in the diet alone.
One of the many questions that get asked everywhere about primitive nations, and societies like the
ache is how do they live? Or even more how do they survive? It is fair to say that in primitive societies,
their mortality rates are very high. Hill/Hurtado (1996) goes on to state Infants die at high rates mainly
as a result of exposure and susceptibility to other biological organisms. High fertility rates should
generally be associated with low mobility in primitive societies. And it is a fair assumption that mobility
for the Ache is nothing compared to the mobility for humans in the United States. For one to live a
lengthy life in the Ache culture I feel it might have a bit of survival of the fittest strategies mixed with the
loving normality of everyday human beings. A chart from (Hill/Hurtado 1996) shows the death rate of a
male Ache person spikes around the early 20s then suddenly drops to almost nothing during the 30s.
While the women actually have a gradual increase over time that almost looks like a conservative stock.
Although it may be a harder, or less fortunate life (the life is not one of luxury) the ache collects for one
another and helps out those who may be less fortunate than others in their society, and they do seem
like extremely happy people, which is what matters in this world in my opinion.

A Discussion of the Ache Culture

5
Concerning Guayaki

Guayaki is an enterprise that included them in their project to regenerate thousands of deforested
acres growing yerba mate in the shadows of the forest. Thus, they thrived again, now as farmers in
reborn lands. 20 guests from the Americas including me, travelled to participate in the harvesting
ceremony. The children of the community showed us care ethics. (Los Guardianes de La Selva, 2013)
Guayaki is a business based through the Ache tribe that produces yerba mate and sells it around the
world. The founders of the company (Pryor, Tarak) talk about how the company came to be and the
Care Ethics that they believe in. Co-Founder Alex Pryor talks about after researching world hunger he
became super active in the questioning of the whole system of the agricultural, and food industries. In
Paraguay when he was a little kid, he noticed the conservative method wasnt working because they
bought lands to conserve. But they didnt work with the social actors that lived in Eastern-Paraguay. So
he decided to build agro ecological systems where he could produce said product while being
conservative. His own opinion of Care Ethics is described as non-selfish behavior with caring actions.
He also says he is distracted by that because it doesnt let you take care of important things. He gives
children as an example. But says that too happens on a national and world scale. Other Co-Founder
Pedro Tarak gives his version of Care Ethics as A different notion, and experience than aid. I agree
with both (Pryor, Tarak) on care ethics, they are operating a very successful and profitable company
while actually helping out a primitive society, and in my opinion is one hell of a brilliant idea.
For centuries, the Ache/Guayaki tribes have used yerba mate for its invigorative effects. It contains 24
vitamins and minerals, and is full of antioxidants. (Pasteur/Paris Scientific society, 1964) concluded It is
difficult to find a plant in any area of the world equal to Mate in nutritional value. They also go on to
state that Mate contains Practically all of the vitamins necessary to sustain life. America is definitely a
market for a product like mate to get eaten up in the American trade; it being one of the most balanced

A Discussion of the Ache Culture

and healthiest stimulants in the world catches the attention of many healthy people who are looking for
a healthy energetic beverage that is delicious.
The Ache have a very unique culture that is based around friendship, and working together. I noticed in
the video that I was watching, (Ache Tribe - Los Guardianes de La Selva - yerba mate) kids were using
giant sticks to push out mangos from the top of a tree. When he was done it shows the kid climbing his
way down a pretty tall tree that could be deemed as a dangerous gesture. But from what I have seen
from how well that kid could climb that tree, it seems that he does that maneuver on a daily basis. I
know in our own society if a kid was seen climbing a tree it might strike fear to an adult who might see it
as playing around, or dangerous activity. But this kid is actually using that gesture to supply his needed
resources. They seem like they are a really happy group of people.
I would like to conclude this assignment by expressing my gratitude for the Ache. I give props to the
Ache due to the fact that they probably have never seen a civilized culture like the one that we live in
here in the U.S. But they make an incredible living based on the little that they have. And because of
that, I think that makes them all completely happy people. I had no idea that they were responsible for
yerba mate as its one of the most excellent beverages to acquire the taste buds of ones parched throat.

A Discussion of the Ache Culture

Works Cited References

Ache life history: the ecology and demography of a foraging people/ Kim Hill and A. Magdalena Hurtado.
Womens Subsistence Strategies among Ache Hunter-Gatherers of Eastern Paraguay By: Ana Magdalena
Hurtado; A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the University of Utah, December 1985
Adult Male Subsistence Strategies among Ache Hunter-Gatherers of Eastern Paraguay by: Kim Ronald
Hill; A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the University of Utah, December 1983
The Guayaki Story: http://guayaki.com/about/134/The-Guayak%26iacute;-Story.html
Ache Tribe - Los Guardianes de La Selva - yerba mate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK9LFe0nr-A

A Discussion of the Ache Culture