Mike working with the local Shipibo kids
![]()
Book Summary
Jéne Néte: A Shipibo Poetry Book is not your typical poetry book. It’s a rare and powerful resource for students of consciousness. Our intention is to raise awareness, share perspective, and preserve the language and culture of the Shipibo Nation. The book expresses the voice of the Shipibo community and their cosmo-vision.
Singing to the Visitor
At the borders of the river,
On the top of the land of the Inka;
Men of blessed flora,
They arrived at their town;
They arrived in your midst,
Men of blessed flora;
To express to you
|
With gratitude and joy;
Listen, Great White Man;
For you with gratitude,
With this to say goodbye;
Infinite tribute thank you.
||
In our beloved town,
At the bottom of the great road;
Twin brothers will march.
Project Summery
The Jéne Néte: Shipibo Poetry Book project is a collaboration by the Shipibo-Konibo non-profit organizations ARIAP-Asociación Raíces Indígenas Amazónicas Peruanas and Arkana Alianza, together with Mike Saijo (artist) and Brian Robert Best (linguistic anthropologist) who are all working directly with the Shipibo-Konibo Nation in and around Pucallpa, Peru along the Ucayali River.
The Selection of Poetry and other Writings is currently being collected through a competition hosted by the Shipibo-Konibo Radio Program Áxenon Ikánwe (We Learn Together) reaching 20,000+ listeners who can "call-in" and submit their pieces. A committee of Shipibo-Konibo judges will select the best 35 poems and other writings to be included in the book. Mike Saijo has created an art installation including the poems and images of the Shipibo children.
Book Status
At the moment, Jéne Néte: Shipibo Poetry Book has been written, and translated to Spanish. We are currently in the process of translating it to English for the first round of proofreading. Mike Saijo is currently working on original illustrations and Ryan Furuya will do the graphic design... first proof scheduled for June-July. Finalize for printing in August. Ready for distribution in September 2018.
Publishing Plan
The funds from this campaign will be put into compensating Shipibo community members for their literary and artistic contributions. Five thousand dollars is needed to place the planned order of 1,000 paperback copies. Allura Printing will produce the books.
Questions
If you have any questions about the book or the artwork feel free to email me at mike.saijo@gmail.com
Campaign Page: https://mikesaijo.wixsite.com/website-4
Artist website: http://msaijo.com/
Campaign Art Tour
June 1-10 - CA 101 Art Exhibit in Redondo Beach, CA
An art installation dedicated to the Jéne Néte project on display at the CA 101 2018, which takes place in a abandoned locker room space contains a memory (a portrait, textile, mask, ceramics), and a Shipibo poem.
June 16-30 - Gestalt Group Show at BG Gallery in Santa Monica, CA.
June 22, 23 - Los Angeles Psychedelic Science Symposium at UCLA Los Angeles, CA
The Purpose of the Jéne Néte: Shipibo Poetry Book is to preserve, strengthen, and celebrate the language and wisdom of Shipibo-Konibo ancestors. The book will be translated from the original Shipibo language into Spanish and English. We hope to raise awareness of their worldview –past and present– and provide historical and cultural context for the growing traditional medicine community throughout the world.
The JÉNE NÉTE (Water World) Poetry Book is the first in the series of four NON ÁXEBO (Our Customs) books based on the four cosmological worlds/dimensions of the Shipibo-Konibo, which will be released every year for the next four years.
Supporting Art Installation - UPDATE: Jéne Néte Wins 1st Place and Public Choice Award at the CA 101 Exhibit 2018 - June 1-10 CA 101 Exhibit Redondo Beach, CA
![]()
![]()
The art installation by Mike Saijo is a reflection of a sacred ceremonial space, based on his recent healing and leaning experience with the Great Grand Mother Jakón Raté, a 70-year-old Shipibo-Konibo healer, and the powerful medicines of Óni (portal to wisdom and the spirit realm) and Noyá Ráo (the mythological master teacher plant).
![]()
Great Grand Mother Jakón Raté and her handmade Noyá Ráo textile art.
The art installation will include reproductions of original portraits of Shipibo-Konibo children and family portraits taken in their hometown. Handmade textile art, ceramic bowls and masks made by the indigenous crafts women will also be part of the installation.
![]()
Handmade textile art, ceramic bowls and masks made by the indigenous crafts women
All the items in the installation will be for sale to raise money to reach our goal. The crowdsource campaign will launch at the opening of the CA 101 exhibition taking place June 1-10, 2018 in Redondo Beach, CA. The installation will be scaled down and included in a group show at BG Gallery, opening Saturday, June 16, 2018.
![]()
I will need $5000 to publish 1000 books. 500 for US distribution and 500 for Peru, for schools and libraries.
![]()
![]()
