Dolphins and other lovers

The Andoque are an Indigenous group living in southern Colombia, near the Caquetá River, with a population of around 260 individuals. They traditionally hunted and fished but have faced significant historical challenges, including enslavement by European traders and rubber companies like the Peruvian Casa Arana in the early 20th century. This period reduced their numbers from about 10,000 in 1908 to a few dozen by the mid-1930s. Today, they live alongside settlers and engage in activities like rubber extraction, commercial fishing, and gold-mining. Their culture blends Indigenous traditions with external influences, and many now question their Indigenous identity due to the decline of their native language. The Andoque view the world as a society of persons, including animals, plants, and spirits, each with human-like traits such as wishes, thoughts, and cultural customs.

The Andoque people believe river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis), known locally as ama̰na̰, are shapeshifting tricksters who can take human form to seduce or harm unsuspecting individuals. These dolphins are considered evil and dangerous, capable of causing madness, hallucinations, and death in those who fall for their charms. Their human-like behavior includes flirting, mimicking human actions, and emitting a sweet, sickly scent that can intoxicate. The Andoque warn against interacting with them, as even small gestures like splashing water or sniffing a runny nose can be misinterpreted as invitations. The word ama̰na̰ is borrowed from the Tupí-Guaraní language, reflecting the relatively recent encounter between the Andoque and these river dolphins, who have inhabited the Amazon for at least 10 million years.

The Andoque attribute the existence of dolphins to a mythological event involving Green Tapir, a cultural figure who caught his wife having sex with her brother. Enraged, he fused their bodies with a spear and threw them into the river, where they transformed into dolphins. This myth explains the dolphins' insatiable sexual appetite and their incestuous behavior, which mirrors human taboos. The story also highlights the dolphins' vengeful nature, as their splash sent a shiver through Green Tapir, symbolizing a curse. The myth serves as a cautionary tale, reinforcing the Andoque's belief in the dolphins' dangerous and supernatural nature.

The author, during fieldwork with the Andoque, experienced firsthand the cultural significance of dolphins. While traveling by boat, they encountered a strong, sweet scent described as euphoric yet nauseating, which the Andoque identified as the smell of dolphins. This scent is considered dangerous, as it can intoxicate and invite the dolphins' attention. The author's casual remark about the smell being 'nice' was met with alarm, as it could be interpreted as an invitation. Later, the author dreamed of a former romantic interest, which the Andoque interpreted as a warning of impending danger, as dreams are seen as messages from the forest spirits (dueños). The author refrained from sharing the dream, fearing it might invite misfortune.

The Andoque practice rituals involving mambe, a coca-based stimulant prepared from toasted leaves, ashes, and powder. This ritual is believed to carry the spirit of an ancestor and open communication channels with the dueños, or guardian spirits of the forest and animals. Permission to hunt or interact with animals must be sought from these spirits to avoid retribution. The mambeadero is a traditional gathering where men discuss topics ranging from gossip to mythology, often late into the night. Dolphins are excluded from these rituals, as they are considered outside the moral and spiritual framework of the Andoque. The maloca is a large communal house used for ceremonies and gatherings, symbolizing the Andoque's cultural resilience and communal identity.