Uchi (Wampis)

An application for mobile devices for children to learn the Wampis language

It is an application for cell phones and tablets (Android Operating System) for children from 3 to 5 years old to learn through images and sounds the basic contents about the alphabet, numbers, family, colors, parts of the human body, animals, fruits and basic expressions in the Wampis language.

This app is aimed at serving as instruments to strengthen and promote linguistic revitalization processes that arise with the new generations.

The Wampis people have also been known by the name “huambisa”. Since this is a denomination imposed by outsiders, the citizens of this town have preferred to identify themselves as Wampis or Shuar. According to Julian Taish, the name Wampis would come from a species of fish that, according to a story from this town, has the quality of easily escaping from its enemy.

The history of the Wampis people is closely related to the Awajún people, with whom they share a historical and cultural tradition. Furthermore, their languages ​​belong to the same linguistic family (Jíbaro). Like the Awajún, the Wampis have been known for their skill as warriors and the strong resistance they had against different populations that entered the territory occupied by them.

The Wampis people live mainly in the northern part of the departments of Amazonas and Loreto, near the border with Ecuador. According to the results of the 2017 national censuses, by their customs and their ancestors there have been 6,292 people who have self-identified as part of the Wampis people at the national level; and by the language or mother tongue with which they learned to speak in their childhood, there have been 3,569 people who have stated that they speak the Wampis language, which corresponds to 0.07% of the total native languages ​​nationwide. In addition, the data obtained by the Ministry of Culture, the population of the communities of the Wampis people is estimated at 11,767 people.

Source: https://bdpi.cultura.gob.pe/pueblos/wampis