From Palm Leaves to Permanence: Dismantling the Old Kupixawa

Before the new Kupixawa can rise, the old one must come down.

These photos show the traditional MAÍ SHOVO that has served the Varí Vino community for years—built with raw wood and palm leaves in the ancestral way of the Noke Koi people.

Why Replace It?

Traditional materials, while culturally significant, have a critical limitation: they don’t last.

Palm leaves deteriorate. Wood rots in the humid Amazon climate. Within 10-15 years, the structure weakens and needs rebuilding. Each rebuilding means:

• Cutting more trees and palms from the forest
• Interrupting community activities during reconstruction
• Repeated labor and resource use

The old Kupixawa served its purpose, but the cycle of constant rebuilding is no longer sustainable in a world where every tree in the Amazon matters more than ever.

Making Space for the Future

As the community carefully dismantles the old structure, they are making space for something more permanent—a Kupixawa built with modern materials that will last 30-50 years, eliminating the need for repeated deforestation.

The old Kupixawa honored tradition through its materials.
The new Kupixawa will honor tradition through its permanence.

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Related: Read why the Noke Koi chose modern materials for the new Kupixawa