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Outside of Pucallpa, the largest city in the Peruvian Amazon, lies the Chana Laboratory, a scientific station dedicated to language sciences and interculturality. Edelvina's dark eyes appear on a screen as a sophisticated camera studies how her gaze constructs sentences in her native language, Shipibo. In the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, a center for the study of indigenous languages has emerged, aiming to save them from extinction and connect academia with local communities.
The Chana Laboratory, situated in the community of San José de Yarinacocha, is dedicated to the study of the 20 indigenous languages spoken in the Ucayali River basin through workshops, studies, and various programs. Despite its humble wooden and brick walls, this center boasts sophistication with its cameras and technology, which will be used to research these languages.
Supported by the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), the University of Zurich, and the Max Planck Institute in Germany, Chana serves as a space for researchers, students, indigenous peoples, and community members to collaborate on projects aimed at better understanding, preserving, and revitalizing the linguistic diversity of the Amazon.
The research conducted at Chana aims not only to increase knowledge about global linguistic diversity but also to preserve and promote it. This collaborative effort involves working closely with local organizations and communities to address their demands, needs, and interests.
The ultimate goal is to apply linguistic knowledge to educational policies and the development of educational materials, particularly for bilingual teachers in the region. Through collaborative research at Chana, insights gained can directly impact teacher training and improve educational practices.
Furthermore, Chana serves as a platform for researchers to share their findings with the broader community, ensuring that the results of linguistic research are accessible and relevant to the indigenous peoples they concern.
In summary, Chana represents a true collaboration between local and international universities, researchers, and indigenous communities, with the shared goal of preserving linguistic diversity and promoting multilingualism in the Amazon.