Unha de Gato Tigre | Huni Kuin Breastplate

Ceremonial Armor for the Soul

Unha de Gato Tigre | Huni Kuin Breastplate is a ceremonial masterpiece—worn to invoke strength, protection, and spiritual connection. Traditionally used by Huni Kuin leaders and healers, each design holds encoded messages from the forest: stories told through color, pattern, and seed.

This necklace is not just worn—it is inhabited. A visual invocation of your commitment to walk in alignment with the sacred.

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Origin & Lineage

Woven by master artisans in the Brazilian Amazon, these pieces are created with glass beads, sacred seeds, and natural fibers. Their powerful form and expansive energy make them ideal for ritual work, performance, or as ancestral armor during transformational times.

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Symbolism

The patterns, colors, and seeds used in this piece each hold specific spiritual meanings passed down through generations. From warding off negative energies to deepening your connection with the natural world and your own intuition, every design is a mirror of the Huni Kuin cosmovision—a worldview where nature, spirit, and community are one.

Unha de Gato Tigre – Cat’s Claw
Known in the forest as Unha de Gato Tigre (Tiger Cat’s Claw), this sacred medicinal plant carries deep meaning and powerful healing properties within Indigenous Amazonian traditions.

The Plant:
Named for its curved, claw-like thorns, Cat’s Claw is a revered vine traditionally used to treat internal afflictions. It is especially known for its effectiveness in healing gastritis, stomach ulcers, and other digestive issues when prepared as a tea or tincture.

The Medicine:
Referred to by some in the community as “espinho na carne”—a phrase that evokes a deep or persistent affliction—this plant offers relief where pain lingers. Beyond physical healing, Cat’s Claw is also used in sacred snuff (rapé) and smoke-cleansing (fumigation) rituals, where its spiritual strength is called upon to purify and protect.

The Sacred Meaning:
This is not just a plant—it is a teacher and ally. Like many forest medicines, Unha de Gato Tigre holds a dual role: healing the body and working on deeper energetic or spiritual levels. Its thorns may suggest caution or protection, but its essence brings resilience and restoration.

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Style Notes

Unha de Gato Tigre Huni Kuin Breastplate has a 22" neck hole with 2" beaded neck bands, and 11.5" x 4" beaded extension from neck,
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Lightweight and powerful, this breastplate can be worn alone or layered with other sacred adornments. Suitable for ceremonial wear, daily beauty and protection, or as a meaningful gift that supports ongoing life for the families protecting the forest.

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Materials & Ethical Commitment

Made with sustainably sourced seeds, glass beads, and natural fibers. All pieces are created through fair-trade partnerships and priced with sacred reciprocity in mind—ensuring the artisans are compensated with dignity and respect for their work and wisdom.

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Impact & Reciprocity

Your purchase directly supports the Huni Kuin community and helps preserve their sacred traditions. We uphold a model of direct exchange, economic empowerment, and permission-based sharing of cultural medicines. Thank you for honoring the people, the plants, and the path.

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Care & Safety

    •    Handle with care

    •    Store in a jewelry box or bag

    •    Clean gently with a soft brush or cloth

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Shipping & Exchanges

Ships from the U.S. within 3–5 business days unless placing a pre-order.

Exchanges or store credit available within 7 days of delivery.

Read our Return & Exchange Policy for details.