Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The People of Amazônia
Approximately 345,000 indigenous people, distributed
among 215 groups, live in Brazil. Each group has its
own unique dialect, mythology, arts, and culture. A
majority of them are semi-nomadic, and live by hunt-
ing, gathering, fishing, and migratory farming. These
indigenous people live in close harmony with the
rhythms of the rainforest, and conservation and sus-
tainability are an integral part of their life. The degree
of exposure to western society varies greatly. Some
people, such as the nomadic Maku, are incredibly
isolated, while others, such as the literate Ticuna
(see
p26)
, are heavily reliant on modern Brazilian society.
Man peering through a
cokar
(headgear) of blue macaw feathers
YANOMAMI PEOPLE
The Yanomami live in the rainforests of
southern Venezuela and Northern Brazil. One of
the most recently contacted tribes in Amazônia,
they number around 20,000 today. Considered
fierce warriors, the tribe consists of four sub-
divisions, each with its distinct language.
The patterns
painted on a
Yanomami adult
have an aesthetic, as
well as magical and
religious significance.
Hammocks,
slung under
palm leaf roofs
along the
inside perim-
eter of the
circular hut,
are commonly
used by old
and young
alike.
During Rehao
, a yearly ceremony of
paying obeisance to the dead, the
Yanomami decorate their arms and
shoulders with colorful feathers.
TUKANO PEOPLE
The name Tukano is used for a number of
ethnolinguistic subgroups living in northwestern
Brazil along the Rio Uapés. The individual groups
live in communal houses. These are spaced out
along the river at a distance of several hours by
canoe. The Tukano grow bitter manioc and
cultivate sweet potato, peanut, and plantain.
Tukano
handicrafts
are
sold in local
markets, or
used as trade
items favored
by non-
indigenous
people in
the area.
The traditional
flute
, played by
male initiates,
is characterized
by a piercing
echo. The flute is
believed to be the
earthly manifes-
tation of spirits
which dominate
the magical and
religious world of
the Tukano.
The maloca
, a hut made from wood and palm
leaves, provides shelter to the whole village.
