“At night I dream, I dream with that dolphin”: relationships between humans and non humans through the oneiric territories of the Kukama indigenous people (Peru)

For the Kukama indigenous community of Peru, affiliated with the Tupi-Guaraní lineage, a multitude of actors, encompassing both human and non human entities, constitute a relational and emotive domain wherein the ongoing interplay among these “peoples” unfolds across diverse realms. This study seeks to delineate an analytical framework concerning the territories-communities depicted within the narratives recounting the dreams of Kukama women. Grounded in three interviews conducted with women identifying themselves as members of the Kukama indigenous populace at the indigenous hub of Nauta (Loreto, Peru), during October 2023. The analysis elucidates the presence of an expansive sociability facilitating connections and influences between human and non human elements across various terrestrial, aquatic, and dreamlike settings comprising the Kukama territories-communities. Moreover, the study deliberates upon the societal ramifications engendered by nocturnal visions upon individuals’ everyday existence and upon the kinship structures of dreamers.