Other Amahuaca families live even more remotely than those in San Juan, close to the border with Brazil. This man is called Ayahuasceiro to account for his suspected use of the hallucinogenic plant Ayahuasca, known to be used in Amahuaca communities in the past. He insisted on being photographed in a uniform used by petroleros, men who work for the oil and gas companies in the region, an example of how wearing Western clothing is a way of demonstrating one is civilisado.

Photograph: Katherine Needles