The Amazon Teacher’s Guide
Introduction
In the large-format film Amazon, we navigate the wondrous Amazon region. From mountain peaks to tropical forests, we roam the river and the diverse land rich with animal and plant life. With more than 48,000 miles of navigable waterways, the Amazon river is vital to the survival of the rainforest ecosystem. Amazon is also a story of two medicine men from vastly different worlds sharing a common quest - the search for the medicinal qualities of native plants. We are introduced to Mamani, a Callawaya shaman. A tribal healer and doctor, Mamani follows tradition by searching for herbal medicines and practicing healing arts. Dr. Mark Plotkin, an American ethnobotanist, uses a combination of anthropology and botany, and examines the way people use plants as medicines. "There may be a remedy for every ailment known to man right here," he remarks in the film, "Some argue that the treasure of the rainforest is the plants, but the key to that treasure is the knowledge of the people."
