In recent years the Mashco Piro people of Peru, a previously more or less uncontacted tribe, have been making clear attempts at contact with local villagers. Last Thursday they made contact with villagers from Madre de Dios (who filmed part of the encounter) and engaged in trade!

This is obviously a huge step that leaves us with a lot to consider. Uncontacted tribes are at great risk of contracting illnesses that they lack antibodies for. In the past this has led to hundreds of people being wiped out. There is apparently a team of doctors about six hours up river that are ready to come assist in such a situation, but it's still a concern. Beyond that, there are questions of cultural preservation and what the effects of loosening the policies built to protect these tribes in order to facilitate contact might have on their people.

Generally I'd say it's better to avoid contact, but these folks have clearly made an effort to communicate and I'd have to say I agree with Peruvian government officials that they have a right to do that. On the other hand, they probably don't really understand just how dangerous it is for them to even touch people who might be carrying something they've never been exposed to before.

I find the entire idea of uncontacted people absolutely fascinating. As ubiquitous as modern civilization may seem, that there are still places where people live as they have for most of our history is amazing. To me it makes history feel more real. I can watch a video and see a real person from whom I'm separated culturally by millenia of technology and yet their expressions don't look so different from my own. I just want to hug one of these guys.