Overall, Simon E. (2018) Aguaruna. International Journal of American Linguistics, 84 (S1). S55-S68.

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Abstract

[Extract] Aguaruna (ISO agr) is a language of the Chicham (Jivaroan) family spoken along the western portion of the Marañón River and the Potro, Mayo, and Cahuapanas rivers. This traditional story tells about how humans didn't know how to give birth in the mythological past. Instead, when a woman's baby was ready to be born, the father would cut her open and take the baby out, leaving the mother dead. Another story tells of how men originally had breasts and women were the hunters, but Etsã, the sun, transferred the breasts (along with domestic duties) to women when they failed to prove themselves as hunters; so this story is part of a cycle that reinforces and legitimizes traditional gender roles in a male-dominated society. It can also be read as having a moral of environmental responsibility, as it emphasizes that all animals, including the insignificant rat, may be useful to humans and must be respected. The same story is told among the Kandozi-Chapra, who share much of their culture with the Chicham-speaking people but speak an unrelated language. Olawsky (2002:123,.-44) reports a similar story told by the Urarina, but there it is .a monkey that teaches the woman.

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