Friday, December 30, 2011

CARIB TRIBE IN BRAZIL

THE CARIB PEOPLE SPEAK CARIBAN AND ABOUT 10,000 FOLKS SPEAK THIS LANGUAGE . THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS ARE NAMED AFTER THEM. THEY ORIGINATED IN THE WEST INDIES AND THE NORTH COAST OF SOUTH AMERICA. THEY RAIDED OTHER GROUPS THAT RESULTED IN FEMALE ARAWAK CAPTIVES. THEY LIVED IN THREE SEPARATE VILLAGES.

THE CARIBS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE MIGRATED FROM THE SAME PLACE TO SETTLE IN THE CARRIBEAN ISLANDS ABOUT 1200 A.D. AFTER 1492 WHEN COLUMBUS DISPLACED THE MAIPUREAN FOLKS BY WARFARE. THE CARIB TRIBE TRADED WITH THE TAINO FROM THESE ISLANDS.NONE OF THEM MINED FOR GOLD FROM THE MAINLAND. THEY WERE GOOD AT BOAT BUILDING AND SAILING. THE CARIBS WERE DISPLAYED BY THE EUROPEANS WITH A GREAT LOSS OF LIFE. OTHERS WERE ASSIMILATED DURING THE COLONIAL PERIOD. THEY CONTRACTED DISEASES ALSO. BLACK ENSLAVED AFRICANS INTERMARRIED WITH CRIB SURVIVORS. IN 1795 THE BRITISH TRANSPORTED THE BLACK CARIBS TO HONDURAS. THESE FOLKS REMAINED IN DOMINICAN IN A DEGREE OF AUTONOMY. THEY HAVE 300 CARIBS REMAINING AND IN 2003 THEY ELECTED THEIR OWN CHIEF AND CELEBRATED 100 YEARS OF TERRITORY.

THE DESCENDANTS FROM THE CARIBE AND WEST AFRICA IS DIFFERENT FROM THE MUSIC CREATED. THEY ALSO DANCE AND MAKE THEIR OWN INSTRUMENTS AND GUITARS. THEIR RELIGION OF THE CARIBES IS POLYTHEISTS. THEY PRACTICED KALINGO SIMILAR TO ANCESTOR WORSHIP. THEY BELIEVED IN AN EVIL SPIRIT. THE CHIEF FUNCTION OF THE SHAMANS WAS TO HEAL THE SICK WITH HERBS AND TO CAST SPELLS. THEIR CEREMONIES HAD SACRIFICES. THEY SMOKED TOBACCO. THEIR EARLY CULTURE WAS PATRIARCHCHAL. WOMEN REARED THE YOUNG CHILDREN, AND PRODUCEDFOOD AND CLOTHING AND CULTIVATED LAND FOR FARMING.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

Thursday, December 29, 2011

BANIWA CULTURE IN BRAZIL

THE BANIWA SPEAK ARAWAKAN WHICH IS SPOKEN BY 6000 FOLKS. THEY ARE RELATED TO CURRIPACO LANGUAGE. THEY INCLUDE THE NORTHWEST AMAZON. THEY BELIEVE IN THE BEGINNING ONLY NAPIRULI THEIR CREATOR FIRST MADE HIS YOUNGER BROTHER. THEN HE CREATED MEN AND WOMAN, FOLLOWED BY THE WORLD, LIGHT, LAND WATER PLANTS AND ANIMALS. HE MADE SEEDS OF EACH PLANT..YUCCA, PINEAPPLE, SUGAR CANE, PLAINTAIN. HE TAUGHT THE WOMEN TO PLANT AND HARVEST AND TO WEAVE BASKETS FOR TRANSPORTING FOOD.

THEY SUFFERED GREATLY FROM THE EXPLOITATION BY THE RUBBER COMPANIES. THEIR POPULATION WAS REDUCED BY CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION. THE REGION'S HISTORY OF VIOLENCE MADE THE BANIWA MIGRATE TOWARD OTHER REGIONS. THEY ABANDONED THEIR ANCESTRAL WAYS. THEY ARE ONE OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS. THEY BUY FOODS LIKE MANIOC AND CASSAVA. THEY MARKET FOODS THAT ARE MOST OF THEIR DIET BUT THEY HUNT, GATHER, AND FISH DEPENDING UPON THE RAINS FOR HUNTING MONKEYS, AND BIRDS. THEY MAKE BLOWPIPES AND BOWS AND ARROWS. POTTERY AND BASKET MAKING HAVE NOT BEEN PASSED ONTO NEW GENERATIONS. THEY MAKE SMALL BROOMS TO SELL. THEY SEW CLOTHING IN COTTON, THEY MAKE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND WALKING STICKS.

THEY HAVE NOT LOST THEIR ANCIENT MYTHOLOGY COMPLETELY. THEY BELIEVE THE CLIMATE CHANGES BY MAGICAL FORCES. THEIR CREATOR IS CALLED NAPIRULI AND IS A DIETY ALSO HONORED BY OTHER ARIWAK GROUPS OF SOUTHERN VENEZUELA, AND BARE PEOPLE. THE APARO ARE SHORT MEN WHO CARRY THUNDER AND LIGHTENING OVER THEIR BACKS AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WEATHER. THEY CAN BRING MALIGNANT SPIRITS. THEY SOAR OVER RIVERS DURING THE RAINY SEASON, AND THEY SINK FISHING TOOLS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER. DESPITE THEIR FEAR THAT THE APARO CAN EVOKE, THE BANIWA STILL CANOE IN RIVERS LIKE THEIR ANCESTORS DID FOR YEARS.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

BAKAIRI INDIANS IN BRAZIL

THE BAKAIRI IN BRAZIL SPEAK CARRIBAN LANGUAGE. AND ABOUT 500 PEOPLE LIVE THERE. THEY LIVE ON A RESERVATION AND CONSIDER THEMSELVES INDIANS WITH SEPARATE CULTURAL TRADITIONS THEY DISTINGUISH BETWEEN KARAIWA AND NONINDIANS AND BAKAKARI. THE LATER PREFER PORTUGUESE AND MARRY NONINDIANS. THEY DEVIATE FROM THEIR TRADITIONS. THEY LIVE IN CENTRAL BRAZIL IN PARATINGA ON A RESERVATION WHICH IS ISOLATED. THEIR ROADS ARE POOR AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO TRAVEL. THE RIVERS PROVIDE WATER FOR WASHING CLOTHES, DRINKING, AND BATHING. THEIR GARDENS ARE CULTIVATED. ABOUT 5% OF THEIR lANDS ARE A DRY PRAIRIE. THEIR CLIMATE IS HOT AND HUMID.

THEY HAVE 259 PEOPLE IN THE VILLAGE.. THE STRUCTURE OF THE PEOPLE IS GROWING SLOWLY. THEY HAVE RANCHES. LARGE AGRRICULTURAL BUSINESSES HAVE PENETRATED THE REGION.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.COM

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

ASHANINKA INDIANS IN BRAZIL

ASHANINKA IS AN ARAWAKEN LANGUAGE . THERE ARE MORE THAN 50,000 PEOPLE WHO SPEAK THIS LANGUAGE. THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS ARE IN THE FOREST IN PERU AND BRAZIL. THEIR NAME MEANS KINSMEN. THEY REPRESENT THE LARGEST INDIGENOUS GROUP IN BRAZIL AND AMAZON AREA AND AMAZON AREA. THEY HAVE SEVEN DIFFERENT GROUPS WHO LIVE SCATTERED LIVES IN MORE THAN 200 COMMUNITIES.

THEY DEPEND ON SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURE. THEY USE SLASH AND BURN TECHNIQUES. THEY PLANT YUCCA, CORN,SWEET POTATOES, BANANAS, RICE , COFFEE, CACAO, AND SUGAR CANE. THEY ALSO HUNT AND FISH USING BOWS AND ARROWS AND SPEARS. THEY ALSO COLLECT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN THE JUNGLE. THEY HAVE A FIERCE AND INDEPENDANT PERSONALITY.

THE WOMEN WEAR A ROBE FROM COTTON THAT IS COLLECTED AND SPUN DYED. WOMEN WEAVE THEM ON LOOMS. THEY PUT SEEDS ON THEM. IT TAKES THREE MONTHS TO MAKE. THEY WEAR THEIR HAIR LONG. THE MEN WEAR THEIR HAIR SHORT. THEY WEAR NECKLACES AND BRACELETS FROM SEEDS AND FEATHERS. ALL OF THEIR TRIBE PAINT THERE FACES. THEY INCREASINGLY WEAR CAST OFF WESTERN CLOTHES.

SINCE THE 1950'S ASHININKA TERRITORY HAS BEEN REDUCED AND THEIR SETTLEMENTS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. THEY HAVE BUILT A RETREAT BY THE ASHANINKA PEOPLE IN THE JUNGLE. A SMALL COMMUNITY OF 600 HAVE LAND RIGHTS.

DURING THE 1900'S THEIR INTERNAL CONFLICT IN PERU DISPLACEMENT AND DEATH IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THEIR DISPLACEMENT AND DEATHS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THEIR GARDENS WERE BURNED. THEIR LEGAL PAPERS WERE DESTROYED. SOME WERE ENSLAVED AND MANY FLED TO OTHER AREAS. THEY COULD NOT HUNT OR FISH BECAUSE OF THE DANGERS FROM ARMED FORCES. MALNUTRITION WAS A PROBLEM TOO. ACCORDING TO ONE COMMISSION, 10,000 ASHANINKA WERE DISPLACED, 6000 DIED, AND 15,000 WERE TAKEN CAPTIVE DURING THIS TIME. ABOUT 40 OF THEIR COMMUNITIES DISAPPEARED. MALARIA IS ON THE RISE DUE TO CLEARING OF TRACTS OF LANDS BY LOGGERS AND COLONISTS, AS ARE OTHER DISEASES BROUGHT IN. IN THE EARLY 2000 THEY GAINED LEGAL TITLE TO A PORTION OF THEIR LANDS. THEY MAPPED THEM USING GPS TECHNOLOGY. THESE LANDS ARE NOW A NATIONAL PARK. THEY ARE INVOLVED IN STRENGTHENING THEIR CULTURE. MOST ASHANINKA HAVE PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT THEIR COMMUNITY AND MANY HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS.

THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THREATS FROM OIL COMPANIES, DRUG TRAFFIC, COLONISTS, ILLEGAL LUMBERERS, ILLEGAL ROADS, CONSERVATION FROM DISEASES FROM OUTSIDERS AND CONSERVATION GROUPS. ROADS HAVE BEEN BUILT INTO THE FOREST TO EXTRACT MAHOGANY AND CEDAR TREES FOR EXPORT.

MISSIONARY GROUPS ARE INTENT ON CHANGING ASHININKA CULTURE AND BELIEF SYSTEM. AND SOME OTHER GROUPS WHO ARE EXPLOITING PROBLEMS WITHIN BECAME WORSE AS A DIRECT OF THE VIOLENT UPHEAVAL OVER A DECADE AGO. THEY HAVE SOME PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP AN ECOLOGICALLY DIVERSE AREA. OTHER ASHANINKA HAVE MOVED FURTHER INTO THE JUNGLE, CHOOSING ISOLATION.

NATIVE-LANGUAGESES.ORG

APURINA INDIANS IN BRAZIL

APURINA INDIANS SPEAK AN ARAWAKEN LANGUAGE OF SOUTH AMERICA. SPOKEN BY 1000 PEOPLE.1000 PEOPLE.. THESE FOLKS LIVE ALONEG THE PUIRUS RIVER. THE CALL THEMSELVES THE KANGITE. THEY ARE SPREAD OVER 23 INDIGENOUS TERRITORIES. SOME APURINA MIGRATE TO SUBURBS OF BOCADO ACRE FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR IMPROVED LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND THAT OF THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

ONE OF THEIR ACTIVITIES IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR PLANT SPECIES FOR THEIR HANDICRAFTS. THEY ARE DEVELOPING A PLANFOR PRODUCING CRAFT COMMERCIALIZATION. JEWELRY FROM THE RAINFOREST SEEDS WAS STARTED IN 1999. THEY RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM THE BRAZILIAN FUND FOR THEIR NATIONAL FUND FOR THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

YINE TRIBE IN PERU

THE YINE SPEAK AN ARAWAKAN LANGUAGE SPOKEN BY 4000 PEOPLE. THIS TRIBE LIVES DEEP IN A PERUVIAN JUNGLE THAT HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET BY THE OUTSIDERS. THEY COOK THEIR FOOD WITH FIRE AND LIKE TURTLE EGGS. THEY HAVE A GROUP OF 150 NOMADS WHO LIVE NEAR THE PIEDRA WHO HAVE MEMBER IN THE WORLD WILDLIFE FUND OF PERU. THEY FOUND REMAINS OF 38 PALM HUTS, TURTLE SHELLS AND EGGSHELL, AND ANIMAL REMAINS AT A BEACH.

THEY MAKE THEIR ARROWS OF VEGETABLE MATTER AND THIS HELPS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR WAY OF LIFE. SINCE SOME OF THEIR HUTS OR HOUSES ARE MORE HIGHLY FINISHED THAN OTHERS. THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF ORGANIZATION. THEY ARE CONSTANTLY ON THE MOVE BASED ON THE RAINS. THEY MAKE BASKETS. FOR CARRYING FOOD FROM PALM AND ANNATTO. THEY USE ANNATTO AS A SUN PROTECTION. THEY HAVE THEIR CAMPFIRES IN FRONT OF THEIR HUTS. SOME OF THEIR FOODS THEY EAT HAVE BEEN COOKED AND THEY USE TURTLE SHELLS TO CARRY FIRE CAMP TO ANOTHER. THEY COVER THEIR PRIVATE PARTS, HOWEVER, LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT THIS GROUP. THESE FOLKS ARE ANCESTRAL KNOWLEDGE AND ARE GUARDIANS OF BIODIVERSITY.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

WITOTO INDIANS IN PERU

THEY SPEAK WITOTOAN LANGUAGE AND ABOUT 4000 PEOPLE LIVE IN THIS TRIBE. TODAY THERE ARE ABOUT 8500 FOLKS WHO LIVE ALONG THE PUTAMAYO RIVERS AND THE AMAZON REGION IN COLUMBIA.

OTHER ARITOTOANS ARE BORA AND MARANA. THERE ARE OTHER SUBGROUPS. DURING EARLY
1900'S THEY HAD 15,000 FOLKS HERE. OBSERVERS REPORTED THAT THEY WERE SEPARATED INTO 100 VILLAGES. DURING THE RUBBER BOOM IN THE 1950'S, DISEASES FORCED LABOR AND MIGRATION OF THE POPULATION RAPIDLY FELL TO 7000 TO 8000. THE SURVEYORS FLED TO MARGINAL AREAS. SOME HAVE LOST THEIR ETHNIC IDENTITY.

ALL THE WITOTO HAVE SIMILAR SUBSISTENCE PRACTICES. THEY MOVE EVERY FEW YEARS TO FIND AREAS IN WHICH TO MAKE SWIDDEN GARDENS. THEIR STAPLES ARE SWEET AND BITTER MANIOC, OF WHICH THEY THEY GROW OVER TWENTY VARIETIES. THEY GROW FRUIT TREES, AND PINEAPPLES. THEY PLANT BANANAS, PLANTAINS, YAMS, PAPAYAS, SWEET POTATOES. MANGOS, PEACH PALMS, PEANUTS, CACAO, SUGARCANE, MAIZE, TOBACCO, AND COCA. MEN CLEAR THE FIELDS AND WOMEN PLANT. THEY CONSIDER TWO REPLANTINGS OF MANIOC THE MAXIMUM POSSIBLE FRUIT FROM OTHER TREES ARE HARVESTED. A FAMILY MAY HAVE SIX HARVESTED DIFFERENT CROPS. A PLOT IS FALLOWED FOR TEN TO TWENTY YEARS BEFORE IT IS REUSED. ETHNOBOTANISTS HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE MANAGED FALLOWS OF A GROUP OF BORA LIVING IN PERU AS AN EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR THE TROPICS. THEY PROCESS MANIOC USING TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF MANIOC PRESSES. THEY MAKE A TAPIOCA AS WELL AS MANIOC CAKES. THE MEN HUNT SMALL GAME. THEY MAKE TRAPS AND PITFALLS. THEY CATCH PECCARIES, TAPIR, CAPYBARAS, ANTEATERS, DEER, TURTLES, AND MONKEYS.

THE CENTER OF THE WITOTO FAMILY IS THERE CEREMONIAL LIFE. THEIR COMMUNAL LIFE ARE OCTAGONAL WITH A CONICAL ROOF. THEY HAVE SMALLER HOUSES WITHIN THEIR COMPLEX. THE WITOTO HOUSES ARE OF MASCULINE TYPE WITH AN OPENING IN THE ROOF. THEY ARE SYMBOLICALLY LIKE THE EARTH, SKY, MAN AND WOMAN. SOME HOUSES HAVE XYLOPHONES MADE OF LOGS OF VARIOUS SIZES THAT ARE SUSPENDED FROM A WOODEN FRAME. THEY ARE BEATEN TO ANNOUNCE THE BEGINNING OF A CEREMONY. OTHERS SPECIALIZE IN THE PRODUCTION OF TOBACCO OR CACAO AND OTHER RITUALS.

THE WITOTO ORGANIZE THEIR UNITS AND FAMILIES BASED ON PATRILINEAGES. TOGETHER THESE UNITS MAKE UP A VILLAGE WHICH TYPICALLY CONSISTS OF A SINGLE MULTIFAMILY DWELLING. THEY MAY HAVE SEVERAL LARGE COMMUNAL HOUSES. EACH VILLAGE MAY 25 PEOPLE AND OTHERS 500. SEVEN VILLAGE TERRITORY RANGES FROM 80 TO 1600 SQUARE KILOMETERS. SOMETIMES THEY FIGHT WITH A ANGLOS INVADERS. THE HEADMAN INHERITS HIS OFFICE FROM HIS FATHER OR BROTHER. THE WITOTO GROUPS AND EVEN VILLAGES HAVE BEEN AT WAR WITH EACH OTHER TO TAKE PRISONERS. ANOTHER REASON OF WARFARE WAS TO REVENGE SHAMANS WHO CAUSED ILLNESS.

THESE FOLKS WERE ONCE A COMPLEX AND HIERARCHICALLY STRUCTURED SOCIETY. EACH GROUP IS ASSOCIATED WITH A CERTAIN CERTAIN COLOR, ANIMAL AND PLANT. THEY CARE FOR THEIR TOTEM AND THEY TAKE CARE OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT. PEOPLE OF LOW SOCIAL STATUS ARE ASSIGNED ARDUOUS AND TASKS OF COLLECTING FIREWOOD, POUNDING COCOA LEAVES AND THEY LIVE IN SMALL HOUSE IN THE CENTRAL DWELLING.

A WITOT0 ORIGIN MYTH TELLS HOW THE TALKING POLE OF THE PRIMAL TREE WAS INVADED BY WORMS SENT BY THE
"PEOPLE OF THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER" THE WORMS SENT THEM SICKNESS UNTIL THEY BECAME ANGRY. A GREAT WAR ENSUED.

AS LIGHTENING AND THUNDER AIDED THESE PEOPLE THEY WON THE WAR AND ESTABLISHED THE PATTERN THE WITOTO WORE VERY LITTLE CLOTHING. THE MEN WORE A BREECHCLOTH OF BARK CLOTH. WOMEN PUT ON BODY PAINT. TODAY THEY WEAR OUR CLOTHING. THEIR ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES ARE CLOSE TO CEREMONIAL EVENTS. THEY HAVE DOZENS OF RITUALS TO REGULATE THE RELATIONSHIP OF PEOPLE TO THE EARTH. THEY HAVE RITUAL DANCING TO PROMOTE GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION AND WARD OFF A DECEMBER DANCE TO PROVIDE SICKNESS AND DEATH. THEY HAVE A DECEMBER DANCE TO PROVIDE GOOD FISHING AND BOUNTY. IT REAFFIRMS ALLIANCES AND EXCHANGES INFORMATION. IN THE 1990'S MANY WITOTO ARE THREATENED WITH THE LOSS OF THEIR CULTURE AND THEIR ECONOMIC BASE AS MORE ANGLOS ENTERED. THEY RAISE CATTLE AND THEIR AGRICULTURE HAS RESULTED IN DEFORESTATION, LOSS OF SOIL, FERTILITY, AND POLLUTION OF RIVERS. THE WITOTO HAVE BEGUN TO REORGANIZE TO REAFFIRM THEIR CULTURAL IDENTITY AND RECLAIM THEIR TRADITIONAL TERRITORY. THE COLOMBIAN AGENCY HAS SET ASIDE SEVERAL RESERVATIONS FOR THE WITOTO.

NATIVE LANGUAGES.ORG

ANUESHUA INDIANS IN PERU

THE AMESHIA INDIANS SPEAK AN ARAWKEN LANGUAGE OF SOUTH AMERICA SPOKEN BY 5000 FOLKS IN PERU.. THERE NAME IS DERIVED BY AAMO OR BARA. TODAY THEY PREFER ANESHA. THEIR TERRITORY IS IN THE HIGH CENTRAL JUNGLE IN PERU BETWEEN THE PERENE AND POZUZO. RIVERS. THERE ARE 1000'S OF COLONISTS HERE TOO. IN THE EARLY 1900'S AND LATE
1800'S THEY HAD EPIDEMICS.

THERE IS LINGUISTIC EVIDENCE THAT AMEUSHA MIGRATED TO THE EASTERN HILLS OF THE ANDES 2000 YEARS AGO. PRIOR SPANISH ARRIVAL THEY CONTACTED OTHER GROUPS FOR SALT AND BARTERED WITH DISTANT GROUPS. ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT THEY WERE LATER DOMINATED BY THE INCAS AND WERE FORCED TO WORK FOR THEM. THE FRANCISCANS ESTABLISHED A MISSION IN 1635. A FEW YEARS LATER THE MISSION WAS DESTROYED. IN 1671 IT WAS REESTABLISHED. IN 1742 THE AMESHA DROVE OUT ALL OUTSIDERS. IN 1860 COLONISTS ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES ALONG THE POZUZO RIVER.

THE AMESHUA HAVE BENN IN CONTINUAL CONTACT WITH COLONISTS SINCE 1880'S. EXCEPT FOR LARGE GROUPS THEY GATHERED INTO THE EARLY MISSIONARIES.

THEIR SETTLEMENTS WERE TRADITIONALLY SMALL AND THEY HAVE EXTENDED FAMILIES. THEY HAVE 47 SMALL COMMUNITIES WITH UP TO FAMILIES. THE LARGEST POPULATION OF ABOUT 25 COMMUNITIES ARE WITH LAND TITLES. MOST DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH LAND FOR AGRICULTURE. THE COMMUNITIES TEND TO BE MORE STABLE AT PRESENT SINCE THE COMMUNITY SHARES THE LAND. THE SCHOOL AND SOCCER FIELD ARE THE CENTER OF MOST COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE DEVELOPED ALONG THE BANKS OF THE CALLAIZU RIVER. EACH HOUSEHOLD IS NEAR A SPRING. THEY HAVE A PALM THATCHED ROOF WITH HARDWOOD POLES WITH WALLS OF SPLIT PALM BARK. TODAY MANY AMESHUA LIVE IN HEWN WOOD FRAME HOUSES WITH ALUMINUM ROOFS.

THEIR RELIGION WAS THAT THEY WORSHIPPED THE SUN AS THE INCAS DID. OUR FATHER THE SUN GAVE LIFE AND BREATH AND STRENGTH TO HUMANITY. THE PRIESTLY LEADER LED HIS PEOPLE IN CEREMONIAL DANCES MAKING MERRY WHEN A BEAUTIFULL BIRD FLEW INTO THE CLEARER TO DELIVER A MESSAGE FROM FROM OUR FATHER.

OUR MOTHER THE MOON IS LESS IMPORTANT. THERE ARE DEMONS AND EVIL SPIRITS AS WELL AS VARIOUS ANIMATED AND INANIMATED SPECIES. MOST HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED BY THE CATHOLICS. IN 12960 SMALL CONGREGATIONSWERE FARMED UNDER INDIGENOUS LEADERS.

THE PREISTS LED PEOPLE IN MAKING COOPERATIVE GARDENS AND IN WORSHIP. SHAMANS ALSO ENJOYED GOOD STATEMENTS BECAUSE THEY HAD CONTACT WITH THE JAGUAR SPIRITS AND OTHER SUPERNATURAL BEINGS. THEY HAVE A CEREMONY FOR A GIRL AFTER PUBERTY. SINGING AND PLAYING PAN PIPES WERE IMPORTANT PARTS OF AMESHUA CEREMONIES. THESE CONTINUE ON A SMALL SCALE IN SEVERAL COMMUNITIES. THE AMESHUA DESIGNS ARE WOVEN WRISTBANDS. THEY USED HERBS TO HEAL AND SHAMANS ALSO HEALED. WESTERN MEDICINE HELPED AS WELL. THEY HAD LITTLE CEREMONY CONNECTED WITH A BURIAL.


NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

YAMINAWA INDIANS IN BRAZIL

YAMINAWA INDIANS OF OF SOUTH AMERICA HAVE 1000 FOLKS IN PERU, BRAZIL, AND BOLIVIA. THEY LIVE WIDELY DISPERSED LIVES. SOME ESTIMATE THEY HAVE 2500 FOLKS. THEY SPEAK PANOAN LANGUAGE SEPARATELY FROM OTHERS IN PERU. THEY HAVE SUBGROUPS. SOME OF THEIR ANCESTORS WERE CAPTIVES. THE RUBBER BOOM OF THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT DEPOPULATION. SLAVERY, VIOLENCE AND DISEASE CAUSED SOME TO FLEE TO THE RIVERS TO BE AWAY FROM THE ANGLOS.

THEY WERE TRADITIONALLY A FORAGING GROUP. DURING THE 1960'S SOME OF THEM CAME INTO CONTINUAL CONTACT WITH WHITES AND HAVE BECOME AGRICULTURALISTS, HUNTERS, AND FISHERS. THEY PREFER MOBILITY VS SEDENTARY. IT HAS RENDERED THEIR AGRICULTURAL EFFORTS LESS PROFITABLE. THEY KNEW SPANISH, PORTUGUESE AND IN ADDITION TO THEIR OWN LANGUAGE AND WEAR WESTERN CLOTHING. SOME BANDS ARE VERY ISOLATED. THEY HAVE RAIDS. THEY LIVE IN A SPARSELY POPULATED FOREST. THE RICH DIVERISTY OF THE YAMINAW'S SOCIAL ORDER IS FLOURISHED. THEIR RITUALS INVOLVE HEAVY DRINKING AND DANCING. THEY LACK FORMALITIES. THEY HAVE NO TRADITIONS. THE AUTHOR ATTENDED A FEAST IN 1992 - IT WAS THE HOME COMING OF A SCHOOL TEACHER AND THE BIRTHDAY OF A YOUNG GIRL. THEY HAVE A VERY LOOSE SOCIAL TRADITION.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

MY DREAMS

SOME OF MY DREAMS HAVE BEEN ABOUT MY PREVIOUS LIFE AS AN ARCHAEOLOGIST. THESE ARE VERY INCREDIBLE AS SOME ARE IN CAVES, WHILE OTHERS WERE IN THE PLAINS. LAST NIGHT I DREAMED OF BEING AN ARCHAEOLOGIST WITH SOME CREW. AND WE WERE FINDING VARIOUS ANIMAL BONES AND WERE TRYING TO DIFFERENTIATE WHAT AREAS WE COULD CONSIDER WAS SITES. WE HAD PIECES OF CUT STONE ALL AROUND US.

IN OTHER DREAMS I HAVE BEEN AN ARCHAEOLOGIST IN FANTASTIC DREAMS THAT WERE LIKE FAIRY TALES- DREAMS THAT WERE LIKE FAIRY TAILS-VIEWING MANY TYPES OF HISTORIC FEATURES AND BLUE AND WHITE CERAMIC FRAGMENTS. OTHER DREAMS WERE ABOUT DREAMS WERE LIKE SIMPLY LOOKING FOR PREHISTORIC OBSIDIAN AND CHERT SITES. AT OTHER TIMES I HAVE DREAMED OF WITH TEAMS OF PEOPLE.

SOME OF MY DREAMS HAVE BEEN ABOUT MY HUSBAND AND MY SON WHEN HE WAS A BABY, A YOUNG BOY, OR TEEN.

IN REALITY MOST OF MY PAST LIFE ASS AN ARCHAEOLOGIST HAS BEEN IN SURVEYING ASND LOOKING FOR PREHISTORIC AND HISTORIC SITES.

Monday, December 19, 2011

SING ALONG MESSIAH IN SANTA ROSA

THIS WAS A WIDELY ATTENDED SING A LONG WITH ABOUT 1200 PEOPLE SINGING AT THE OLD AUDITORIUM AT SANTA ROSA HIGH SCHOOL. THEY HAD THE SANTA ROSA SYMPHONY AND ABOUT 40 KIDS FROM MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL. THERE WAS ALSO A CHOIR FROM THE SANTA ROSA J C WHICH NUMBERED ABOUT 90 PEOPLE. THERE WERE SOME SOPRANO SOLOISTS AND TWO SMALL GIRLS WHO SANG ONE TUNE. WE SANG SOME OLD TUNES THAT I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH...THEY SEEMED TO BE FROM BIBLICAL TIMES. THEY GAVE US THICK VERSE BOOKS. THE ONLY TUNES I KNEW WERE HALLELUJAH, JOY TO THE WORLD, SILENT NIGHT, AND O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL. THE OTHER TUNES WERE VERY FAST BEATS AND ALL WERE SINGING IN A FAST PACE.

CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING CAROLING

YESTERDAY I WENT TO THE CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING FOR A SERVICE. AND AFTER THE SERVICE WE PRACTICED SOME CHRISTMAS TUNES WHICH WE HAD FUN SINGING WITH A GROUP OF ABOUT 15 FOLKS. WE PRACTICED AND WENT TO SEVERAL NURSING HOMES WITH A LEADER WHO DIRECTED US IN LOOKING AT THE AUDIENCE VERSUS AT OUR MUSIC SHEETS. SOME OF THE AUDIENCE SANG WITH US. WE SANG FELIZ NAVIDAD AND MANY TUNES THE AUDIENCE JOINED US AND CREATED A SMALL COMMUNITY.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

HARVESTING METHODS OF COASTAL INDIANS

CALIFORNIA INDIANS INCLUDED ONLY A PORTION OF A PLANT SO THAT IT COULD REJUVENATE AGAIN. ALGAE AND FUNGI DID NOT EXCEED THE POPULATION'S CAPACITY TO RECOVER. THEY GATHERED FRUITS, BRANCHES, LEAVES, FLOWERS, CORMS, AND STEMS THAT COULD BE GATHERED YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH HARM TO THE PLANT.

SEAWEEDS SUCH AS LAVER WERE HARVESTED BY LIGHTLY PULLING THEM FROM ROCKS BY HAND, LEAVING THE HOLDFAST AND MAT THAT REGROWS BLADES. PORPHYRA IS AN ANNUAL AND WILL BE REPLACED VIA SPORE SETTLEMENT ANNUALLY. GRAPESTONE IS A LONG LIVED PERENNIAL AND WAS PICKED SO THE ALGAE WOULD GROW BACK. APPARENTLY THE HAWAIIAN HARVESTING OF SEAWEED HAS EVIDENCE FOR ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY. THE MIWOKS TAUGHT THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ABOUT MUSHROOM HARVESTING. THEY MUST NOT DISTURB THE MYCELIA UNDER THE MUSHROOMS TO ENSURE FUTURE HARVEST.

ELSIE ALLEN WROTE IN HER BOOK , POMO BASKETMAKING, THAT WHEN GATHERING WHITE ROOT OR CAREX OR SEDGE, IT IS NECCESARY TO LEAVE 1/2 OF RHYSOMES TO REPRODUCE. THE WASHOE TEAR THE LEAVES OF ASPEN ONION WITH THEIR FINGERNAILS OR TWO INCHES FROM THE GROUND, LEAVING SOME OF THE PLANT TO GO TO SEED. THE YOKUTS HARVEST BRODEIAS, YAMPAHS AND LILIES, LEAVINGPARENT PLANTS OR BULBLETS BEHIND TO REPRODUCE.

DURING HISTORICAL TIMES, PLAINS AND SIERRA MIWOK MEN CLIMB GRAY PINES FOR HARVESTING THEIR NUTS. THEY USE SPLICED POLES LONG ENOUGH TO REACH 40' UP. ONE OR MORE MEN HOLD THE POLE WHILE WHILE AN EXPERT CLIMBER ASCENDS AND BEATS SOME OF THE CONES WITH A POLE. THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PASS UP SOME PLANTS OR CONES TO ENSURE FUTURE ABUNDANCE. WILD POTATOES ARE GATHERED , AND THEY ONLY COLLECT THE SMALL BULBS NOT THE "MOTHER BULB". CALIFORNIA INDIANS HAD A DIFFERENT CONCEPT OF OWNERSHIP OF LAND.

CALIFORNIA INDIANS HAD A DIFFERENT CONCEPT OF OWNERSHIP OF LAND. IF THEY USED AND TENDED AN AREA IT BECAME THE DOMAIN OF THE GATHERER OR PERSON WHO TENDED THE LAND. THIS IS CALLED USUFRUCT RIGHTS WHERE EVERY FAMILY HAD RIGHTS TO CERTAIN RESOURCES. THE POMO DESCRIBED OWNERSHIP OF LARGE OAK TREES ON THE FLAT VALLEY THAT WERE PRIVATELY OWNED, WHILE THOSE ON THE HILLS WERE FOR THE VILLAGE. EXTENDED FAMILIES FREQUENTED THE SAME STANDS OF DIFFERENT OAKS FOR MANY GENERATIONS. THEY PASSED DOWN THE KNOWLEDGE OF PRESERVING LAND AND MANAGING IT TO THE YOUNG. THESE INDIANS USED CERTAIN SHRUBS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS BECAUSE THE FRUIT WAS SWEETER, AND THE TREES BORE LESS BITTER ACORNS.

THEY HAD SPECIAL AREAS DESIGNATED FOR BASKETRY CORDAGE AND ROOTS. THESE WERE DESIGNATED FOR CONTINUAL AND LONG TERM USE. THE SAME WAS TRUE FOR FISHING SITES. NARROW LEAVED WILLOW AND SEDGE AREAS WERE USED REPEATEDLY. THE YOKUTS HAD TRADITIONAL AREAS FOR PICKING BERRIES AND SEEDS FROM THE SAME PLACE ON WHICH THEIR PRIVATE OAK TREE OR MANZANITA BUSH WAS. THEY TIED A PIECE OF BRUSH TO IT OR STAKED IT. THEY HAD FAMILY THAT THEY WENT TO YEAR AFTER YEAR. THEY DIDN'T OWN THE AREAS BUT THEY KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO PRODUCE ACORNS.

KAT ANDERSON

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

HOW TO RELEASE BUILT UP STRESS

1. EXPEL THE VENOM TO LET STEAM OFF:
STAND WITH YOUR HANDS ON YOUR THIGHS AND TAKE A DEEP BREADTH.
2, SIT ON A CHAIR AND TWIST WITH AN EXHALATION, MAKE A SHHH SOUND AS IF TELLING SOMEONE TO BE QUIET.
3. WITH DEEP INHALATION SWING YOUR ARMS OUT TO THE SIDES AND COMPLETE THE CIRCLE BRINGING THEM ABOVE THE HEAD.
4. TURN HANDS AROUND SO PALMS YOU ARE FACING YOU AND MAKE FISTS
5. AS YOU EXHALE BRING HANDS DOWN AND OPEN NEAR YOUR THIGHS.
6. BRING TO MIND YOUR ANGER AND MAKE YOUR MOVEMENTS QUICK AND FORCEFUL. REPEAT IF YOU WANT.
7.FEEL YOUR POWERS UNFOLDING.

SEPARATING HEAVEN AND EARTH
MOST PEOPLE TEND TO COLLECT TOO BRING FRESH OXYGEN. IT OPENS THE MERIDIANS AND EXPELS TOXIC ENERGY. WE NEED TO EMPTY OURSELVES OF EXCESS ENERGY OR IT BECOMES TOXIC.
1. STAND WITH YOUR FINGERS SPREAD ON YOUR THIGHS.
2. WITH A DEEP INHALATION THROUGH YOUR NOSE, CIRCLE WITH YOUR ARMS OUT AND HAVE THEM MEET IN PRAYER POSITION.
3.INHALE DEEPLY THROUGH YOUR NOSE AND SEPARATE YOUR HANDS AND PUSH THEM IN THE AIR AS THEY ARE PUSHING UP TOWARDS THE HEAVENS.
4. THEN RELEASE YOUR BREATH YOUR THROUGH YOUR MOUTH. PLACE YOUR HANDS IN PRAYER POSITION. DO ONE OR MORE MORE ADDITIONAL LIFTS OF YOUR ARMS. ONE ARM RAISES AND ANOTHER ONE OR MORE ARM RAISES AND ANOTHER ONE LOWERS.
5. BRING YOUR ARM DOWN AND ALLOW YOUR BODY TO FOLD OVER AT THE WAIST.
6. SLOWLY RETURN TO A STANDING POSITION WITH A BACKWARD ROLL OF THE SHOULDERS.

THE CROSS CRAWL

- FEEL MORE BALANCED
-THINK MORE CLEARLY
- IMPROVE YOPUR COORDINATION
- HARMONIZE YOUR ENERGIES
IF YOU ARE PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY EXHAUSTED, THERE ARE WAYS TO BECOME MORE BALANCED.

1. WHILE STANDING LIFT YOUR RIGHT ARM AND LEFT LEG.
2. AS YOU LET THEM DOWN, RAISE THE LEFT ARM AND RIGHT LEG. IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE YOU ARE IN A WHEELCHAIR LIFT ONE KNEE TO THE OPPOSITE ELBOW OR TWIST YOUR UPPER TORSO SO YOUR ARM PASSES OVER THE MIDLINE OF YOUR BODY
3. REPEAT THIS TIME EXAGGERATING THE LIFT OF YOUR LEG.
4. CONTINUE IN THIS EXAGERRATED MARCH FOR A MINUTE AGAIN AND BREATH DEEPLY.

DONNA EDEN

WEEKEND FUN

LAST WEEKEND I WENT TO THE CHURCH OF SPIRITUAL SCIENCE TO HELP WITH A GROUP OF WOMEN WHO HAD SKILLS IN MAKING QUILTS FOR THE NEEDY. IN THREE HOURS WE MADE ABOUT 15 QUILTS FROM TOPS OF NAPKINS AND OTHER FABRICS. SOME ALREADY WERE SEWN TOGETHER BY OLDER LADIES THAT HAD SEWING MACHINES. FOUR GALS WORKED ON EACH QUILT AND THERE WERE TWO TABLES. WE PUT BATTING INSIDE EACH QUILT WE DESIGNED WITH VARIOUS SEWN NAPKINS OR FABRIC PIECES. SOME COLORS MATCHED AND SOME DID NOT. THESE WERE WARM QUILTS. SOMETIMES WE DID NOT GET IT PERFECT BUT THAT WAS OK TOO. WE PINNED THE UNDER LAYER TO THE TOP TO MAKE THE QUILTS. AFTER THE OLDER LADIES SEWED THEM WE SEWED THREADS AND YARN ON THE TOPS TO COMPLETE THEM. WE WERE MAKING GOOD COMPANY AND MANY OF US HAD NEVER MET BEFORE. JUST WHEN WE NEEDED MORE BATTING A LADY STEPPED IN AND BROUGHT MORE! IT WAS FUN.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

LAST NIGHT I WENT TO A DANCE PERFORMANCE THAT WAS COMPOSED OF ABOUT FOUR DANCE GROUPS. I MET A LADY WHO WAS INTERESTED IN HIKING WITH ME. THE GROUPS WERE CHOREOGRAPHED AS DANCERS WHO MOVED IN A WHOLE VARIETY OF MOVEMENTS INCLUDING SOME LIKE SWANS, SOME WERE RIGIDLY DANCING AS ELVES. ONE NUMBER WAS A SEXY TYPE OF DANCE. ANOTHER DANCE WAS MORE LIKE ACROBATICS. ANOTHER DANCE BY TWO LADIES SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE THEY WERE GYMNASTS WHO WERE DOING SOME STRONG MUSCLE ACTS LIKE STANDING ON THEIR HANDS AND ONE GAL STOOD ON TOP OF THE OTHER'S SHOULDERS! THEY DID AN INTERTWINING AND BOTH MUST HAVE PRACTICED MANY HOURS.

ANOTHER DANCE WITH BOTH YOUNG GALS AND GUYS LOOKED AMAZING ALSO. ONE THIN BLACK GUY DID A KIND OF STREET DANCE AS HE SPINNED MANY TIMES ON ONE SHOULDER. ANOTHER SPEAKER PERFORMANCE WAS WITH A SINGER A ELECTRIC KEYBOARD AND A DANCER. THE LADY SANG "HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS". I HEARD THAT THIS GROUP OF DANCERS TRAVELS TOGETHER IN CALIFORNIA. THEY HAD MANY PERFORMERS WHO ALL CAME ON STAGE. IT WAS VERY ENERGIZING.

REMEMBERANCE OF TROY OHIO

WHEN I WAS RAISED IN TROY OHIO I WAS A STUDENT OF THE ARTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. OUR LARGE OLD HOUSE WAS JUST ONE BLOCK FROM THAT SCHOOL. MY MOM STAYED HOME TO RAISE MY BROTHER AND I FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS. SHE WENT TO AN OSTEOPATH FOR HER ARTHRITIS. I REMEMBER HAVING A FUN CHILDHOOD AS SOME OF THE KIDS ON OUR BLOCK WOULD CHASE AROUND AND PLAY TAG IN A LARGE UNDEVELOPED BLOCK BEHIND OURS. IT LOOKED LIKE A JUNGLE OF SORTS AND HAD MANY BUSHES AND TREES AND VINES. WE LIVED ON MAIN STREET JUST ACROSS FROM LARGE COMPANY CALLED HOBART MANUFACTURING. THEY ALL KINDS OF PARTS FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF EQUIPMENT SUCH AS KITCHEN AID EQUIPMENT AND MIXERS. I REMEMBER WALKING PAST THEIR SMOG FILLED BLOCK TO HIGH SCHOOL. OUR HOUSE HAD A POOL TABLE AND WE PLAYED POOL WITH OUR FAMILY AND KIDS FROM SCHOOL. MY DAD AND HIS BROTHER WERE PART OF THEIR FATHER'S SMALL WESTERN STORE IN DOWNTOWN TROY WHEN I WAS A KID. THEY SOLD ALL TYPES OF GEAR THAT WAS FROM KANSAS AND INCLUDED HORSE SADDLES, COWBOY AND COWGIRL WESTERN CLOTHING, WOMEN'S ANS MEN'S BOOTS, AND WESTERN HATS.

IN TROY I TOOK LESSONS IN JUNIOR HIGH FOR LEARNING TO PLAY A CELLO BUT NEVER EXCELLED AT IT.I REALLY ENJOYED BOTH CAMPFIRE GIRLS AND ACROBAT LESSONS. OUR FAMILY'S STORE WAS FINALLY SOLD WHEN I WAS IN ABOUT 3RD GRADE AND MY MOM WENT TO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT. I HAD MADE A NUMBER OF FRIENDS WHO I PLAYED WITH AFTER SCHOOL AND ON WEEKENDS. OUR BACKYARD WAS LARGE AND I GOT POISON IVY ALL THE TIME. WHEN I WAS YOUNG WE BURNT ALL OUR BOXES AND PAPERS IN THE BACKYARD (OF COURSE THEY DON'T TODAY).

THE WINTERS WERE PRETTY FIERC AND OUR HOUSE WAS AT LEAST 100 YEARS OLD. THE SUMMERS WERE NEVER VERY HUMID. IN ANY CASE WE ALWAYS HAD TOO MUCH OF A HOUSE TO CLEAN. I USUALLY DID HOUSEWORK ON SATURDAYS AND WE WENT TO THE LAUNDROMAT ON SUNDAYS.

FINALLY BOTH OF OF MY PARENTS WORKED IN A NEARBY TOWN OF DAYTON. WE MOVED OUT OF THAT OLD HOUSE WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. THAT WAS A BIG CHANGE FOR ALL OF US. I HAD TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS.

Monday, December 12, 2011

GATHER YOUR ALLIES

BARBARA SHER WRITES MANY BOOKS. IN ONE SHE GIVES A LESSON ABOUT FINDING SOMEONE WHO COULD BE YOUR ALLIE. THIS PERSON CAN SUPPORT YOU IN TIMES OF NEED. WHENEVER YOU WERE BULLIED AS A KID, OR POSSIBLY WHEN A TEACHER GOT MAD AT YOU, YOU POSSIBLY HAD A RELATIVE OR PARENT TO SUPPORT YOU.

THIS PERSON HELPED YOU TO OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES AND DEFEND YOU. YOU WILL NEVER FORGET IT. THE NATIVES HAD PLENTY OF ALLIES WHO THEY COULD DEPEND UPON IN THEIR TRIBE, OR OTHER TRIBAL ALLIANCES. THEY ALSO RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO HAVE SPIRIT HELPERS. WHO WERE POWERFUL FORCES, POSSIBLY SPIRITS OF ANCESTORS, OR ANIMAL TOTEMS SUCH AS THE WOLF, THE BEAR , OR THE RAVEN.

THESE SPIRIT ALLIES WERE DEPENDABLE TO PROTECT CHILDREN OR WHOEVER CALLED UPON THEM. THE NATIVE AMERICANS THOUGHT ONCE THEY WENT ASLEEP THEY WENT ON A DREAM JOURNEY. THEY GATHERED TOGETHER TO WATCH OVER THEM. THEIR ALLIES ALLOWED THEM TO MOVE FORWARD FASTER THAN WE DO TODAT AS WE LIVE WITHOUT EXTENDED FAMILIES FOR THE MOST PART.

LIVE THE LIFE YOU LOVE

I SAW BARBARA SHER ON A PBS PROGRAM ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO GAVE ME AN AHA FEELING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A LIFE COACH. SHE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT MOTIVATING AND COACHING PEOPLE TO DO THEIR BEST. SHE BECAME ONE OF MY IDOLS. IN MANY PEOPLE THEY MAKING MANY CHANGES THAT MAKE THEM FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE. WHEN PEOPLE FEEL STUCK THEY FEEL ANGRY AND HAVE MISPLACED FEELINGS. FEELINGS KEEP CHANGING JUST LIKE THE WEATHER. THINK OF LISTING YOUR FEELING IN ORDER TO SEE WHAT IS POSSIBLY A PATTERN FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD.

IN MANY WAYS HER COACHING WAS MUCH LIKE OUR MINISTER. HE ENCOURAGES AND ACKNOLEDGES US AS WE ARE ALL WHOLE AND BEAUTIFUL THE WAY WE WARE. WE ALWAYS SAY POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS AND HE ENCOURAGES US TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP.















BARBARBARA SHER

Friday, December 9, 2011

SUMMER PANIC -TAKING DOWN THE FLAME

1. STAND PLACING YOUR HANDS ON YOUR THIGHS. SENSE ENERGY TRAVELING DOWN YOUR LEGS AS YOU BECOME MORE GROUNDED.
2. BREATHE DEEPLY AND SLOWLY MAKING A Sighing SOUND WITH EACH EXHALATION.
3. INHALE DEEPLY AS YOU CIRCLE YOUR ARMS WIDELY OVER YOUR HEAD. UNTIL THE FINGER TIPS AND THUMBS OF EACH HAND MEET.
4. EXHALE WITH THE HA SOUND.BRING YOUR HANDS TO THE CROWN CHAKRAS.
5. EXHALE WITH THE "HA" SOUND. BRING YOUR THUMBS TO THE CROWN POINT OF THE THIRD EYE.
6.EXHALE WITH THE HA SOUND. BRING YOUR THUMBS TO THE POINT NEAR YOUR BREAST.
7. EXHALE WITH HA SOUND, BRING YOUR THUMBS DOWN SO THE FORM A PYRAMID. KEEP THEM IN THIS POSITION AND IN HALE.
8. EXHALE AGAIN AND FLATTEN YOUR HANDS AND STRETCH THEM DOWN TO THE ORIGINAL POSITION AT YOUR THIGHS. BEND DOWN TO YOUR KNEES. STILL HANGING OVER BRING YOUR HANDS DOWN.
9. BENDING OVER, EXHALE WITH THE HA SOUND AS YOU RETURN TO A FULL STAND. FINALLY EXHALE WITH A WITH AN AH SOUND.

DONNA EDEN

SANTA ROSA JAZZ ENSEMBLE

LAST NIGHT I ATTENDED A 15 PERSON ENSEMBLE. THERE WERE 15 PEOPLE AT EACH ENSEMBLE. THE FIRST HAD SEVERAL YOUNG STUDENTS. ONE WAS PLAYING A PIANO, ANOTHER ONE WAS ONE PLAYED DRUMS, TWO ELECTRIC GUITARS, AND ONE PROFESSIONAL SLIDING TROMBONE AND A SAXOPHONE, AN ELECTRIC CLARINET AND TRUMPET. THE JAZZ SONGS WERE VERY FAST. THE NEXT GROUP WAS A VERY INTERESTING ONE. IT INCLUDED TWO SLIDING TROMBONES, A PIANO AS ELECTRIC BASS TWO TO THREE ELECTRIC GUITARS TWO SLIDING TROMBONES, A XYLOPHONE AND A GOOD DRUMMER. THEY PLAYED VERY FAST AND EACH PLAYER GOT TIME TO EMPHASIZE THEIR TALENTS AS THE OTHER PLAYERS STOOD BACK. ONE TUNE REMINDED ME OF THE CARRI BEAN AS IT HAD A RHYTHM LIKE THOSE WE HEARD IN THE CARRI BEAN, THERE WERE MANY MUSIC STUDENTS TAKING NOTES ONE STUDENT LOOKED LIKE MY SON. THE DIRECTOR KEPT GOING IN FRONT OF THE PLAYERS AND CLAPPED MEANING A SIGNAL FOR US TO CLAP AS WELL.

YAGUA INDIANS INDIANS IN PERU

THEIR ARE 5000 INDIANS IN NORTHERN PERU. ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT THE YAGUA ORIGINALLY INHABITED THE NORTHERN HINTERLAND OF THE AMAZON. THE YAGUA HAD TO MOVE CLOSER TO THE MAIN RIVER IN ORDER TO ACQUIREHIGHLY COVETED GOODS. IN 1693 THEY FIRST HAD CONTACT WITH THE WHITES IN 1693 WHO WERE MISSIONARIES.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

URANIAN INDIANS IN PERU

URARINA INDIAN LANGUAGE OF SOUTH AMERICA IS SPOKEN BY 3000 PEOPLE IN NORTHWESTERN PERU. URANIAN IS A LANGUAGE NOT KNOWN TO BE RELATED TO ANY OTHER LANGUAGE. THESE LANGUAGES ARE NOT KNOWN TO BE RELATED TO ANY OTHER LANGUAGE.

THE URARINA ARE INDIGENOUS OF THE PERUVIAN AMAZON BASIN BASED ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATA. THEY LIVED IN CAMBRIA. THEY CALL THEM DOWNSTREAM PEOPLE. THEIR SOCIETY IS CALLED KATCHA OR DOWNSTREAM PEOPLE. THEIR SOCIETY HAS RECEIVED EXCEPTIONALLY LITTLE ATTENTION IN THE LITERATURE. THEY ARE CULTURALLY VIBRANT SEMI- MOBIL HUNTERS AND HORTICULTURALISTS WITH A POPULATION OF 2000. THEIR HOUSES HAVE MANY LONGHOUSE GROUPS. THEY LIVE ON HIGH GROUND ALONG THE FLOOD FREE MARGINS. THEY ARE COMMONLY FLOODED IN WINTER SEASON. THE MEN PRACTICE POLYGAMY. THEY ARE GOOD HUNTERS. THE URARINA HAVE A DELUGE - MYTH IN WHICH A MAN SAVED HIMSELF FROM THE DELUGE WHILE CLIMBING A CUDI TREE WHILE TWO SONS BECAME BIRDS. HE SOON HAD A WIFE. SHE SUMMONED A PIT VIPER IN AN ATTEMPT TO EVADE HIM. THEY HAVE ONGOING SURVIVAL CHALLENGES, INADEQUATE HEALTH CARE, AND CULTURAL PROBLEMS. THEY ARE INSPIRED BY OTHER TRIBES.
THEY REMAIN THE LARGEST UNTITLED AMAZONS IN PERU. WHO ARE FAIRLY ISOLATED. BUT THEY HAVE BEEN VISITED BY COLONISTS, LOGGERS, RIVER TRADERS, DRUG VOYERERS, TOURISTS - ALL WHO HAVE BROUGHT DISEASES THAT THREATENED THEIR WAY OF LIFE.

THEY LIVE IN AN AREA WITH SIGNIFICANT OIL RESERVES. THREE OIL COMPANIES BEGAN DRILLING BEGAN DRILLING FROM THE CAMBRIA OIL RESERVE. THERE OLDEST COMMUNITY REMOVED FROM THIS AREA BECAUSE OF THIS ACTIVITY. THE OIL FIELDS ARE OWNED BY THE PETROPERU, A NATIONAL OIL COMPANY, BUT THE RIGHTS WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE ENTERPRISE OIL COMPANY OF ENGLAND IN 1996. IN 1997 ANOTHER OIL COMPANY EXPLORED FOR OIL BUT DID NOT FIND MUCH.

BEFORE THEY STRUCK OIL THEY HAD AN ECOLOGICAL DISASTER IN 1997. IN 1997 THE STEEL BOTTOM OF A BARGE BRINGING OIL WAS PUNCTURED BY A HUGE TREE, CAUSING OIL CONTAMINATION OF THE ENTIRE CAMBRIA RIVER DOWNSTREAM. THE BARGE WAS TOWED UPSTREAM. THEY ATTEMPTED TO CONTROL THE LEAK. THE FISHERS COMPLAINED THAT THE FISH IN THIS RIVER WERE SWIMMING INTO ANOTHER RIVER. THE AMAZON RIVER DOLPHINS WERE THAT WERE ABUNDANT HAVE SINCE BEEN SCARCE. THE CHAMBIRA RIVER IS A NARROW RIVER ONLY 90 ' WIDE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO STUDIES SINCE THIS DISASTER.

OIL DRILLING TEAMS STILL SPREAD NEW DISEASES INTO THIS TERRITORY , INCLUDING A DRUG RESISTANT EPIDEMIC AND WHOOPING COUGH. THE OIL EXPLORATION HAS RESULTED IN HEALTH IMPACTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION. IF IT CONTINUES AT THIS PACE THE EFFECTS ON THE URARINA WILL BE IRREVERSIBLE.

NATIVELANGUAGES.ORG
WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Thursday, December 8, 2011

TICUNA INDIANS IN PERU

TICUNA INDIANS IS AN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE SPOKEN BY 40,000 FOLKS. THE NAME TICUNA MEANS "MEN PAINTED IN BLACK". THE TICUNA PAINTED THEIR BODIES BLACK WITH GENIPAPO JUICE. THEY LIVE ON TRIBUTARIES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE THE AMAZON RIVER.THEIR TRIBE IS LOCATED IN PERU, COLUMBIA, AND BRAZIL. THEY HAVE 16,000 PEOPLE IN BRAZIL, WITH ABOUT 6000 IN COLUMBIA ACCORDING TO CREATION MYTH. THE TICUNA ORIGINATED IN THE EWARE NEAR THE COLUMBIAN BRAZIL BORDER. THEIR ENEMIES WERE THE OMEGUA.

ONCE EUROPEANS ARRIVED THE OMAGUA WERE DECIMATED BY WARS AND EPIDEMICS. BETWEEN 1864 AND 1870 BRAZIL WAS NOT AT WAR WITH PARAGUAY. THE TICUNA INVOLVEMENT DECREASED THEIR POPULATION. IN EARLY 1890'S THE RUBBER TAPPERS BEGAN AND THE TICUNA WERE LABORERS FOR THEM. THE TICUNA IN BRAZIL WERE FORCED TO RELOCATE. IN THE 1930'S PERU AND COLUMBIA BECAME INVOLVED IN A WAR THE TICUNA EMIGRATED TO THE RIGHT BANK OF OF THE AMAZON.

A SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN THE 1950'S WAS THE EXPORT OF HIDES AND ANIMALS. THE CHURCH WAS BUILT AND THEY BUILT SCHOOLS IN THE AREA. IN THE 1970'S THE CHURCH IS EDUCATING THE INDIANS. TWO TRENDS AFFECTED THE TICUNA THEIR POPULATION INCREASED AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE CONCENTRATED IN VILLAGES ALONG THE AMAZON.

THEY PREVIOUSLY LIVED IN COMMUNAL HOUSES REMOVED FROM EACH OTHER, ON LAND IN THE JUNGLE ABOVE THE FLOOD PLAIN.. CEREMONIES WERE HELD THE CENTRAL SECTION. CEREMONIES WERE HELD IN THE CENTRAL SECTION. THEY USED FOOT TRAILS BETWEEN HOUSES. RIVER NAVIGATION WAS NOT SIGNIFICANT. LATER COMMUNAL HOUSES WERE REPLACED BY THE RECTANGULAR HOUSES WITH TWO SIDED AND NO NEW WALLS. ONLY NUCLEAR FAMILIES WERE IN THEIR HOUSES. THE CHANGE IN SETTLEMENT FROM TERRA FIRME AND THE SUBSTITUTION OF ONE FAMILY HOUSES, TRANSFORMED THEIR LIFE. THEY HAVE KNOW LEARNED HOW TO MAKE GOOD CANOES AND HAVE NEW TECHNIQUES FOR FISHING. CONTACT WITH THE ANGLOS INTENSIFIED IN THE 60'S AND THEY ADOPTED A DIFFERENT SETTLEMENT PATTERN, THE ANGLOS BROUGHT BROUGHT CATTLE RANCHES WHICH DECREASED LAND FOR HUNTING AND CULTIVATION FOR THE TICUNA. TODAY THEY LIVE IN VILLAGES. THEIR HOUSES HAVE 2 SPECIES. - A LIVING QUARTERS AND THE KITCHEN. THE TICUNA SLEEP UNDER MOSQUITO NETS. THEY PLACE BOARDS OVER THE TRANSVERSE ROOF BEAMS WHERE CHILDREN CAN SLEEP. THEIR ANCIENT RELIGION TEACHES THAT THE WORLD IS CONTROLLED BY SPIRITS AND FORCES THAT DETERMINE THE COURSE OF EVENTS. BOTH PORTUGUESE AND SPANISH MISSIONARIES BEGAN THEIR WORK DURING THE FIRST CENTURIES OF DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST , SO THE MAJORITY OF TICUNA ARE NOW CATHOLIC SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURIES. THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS MASONIC MOVEMENTS. TA'E IS THE DIVINITY WHO INHABITS THE WORLD ABOVE. HE GIVES THE TICUNA THEIR SOULS AND LIVES IN THE WORLD ABOVE. THEIR MOST IMPORTANT MYTHOLOGICAL BEINGS ARE THE YOI AND IPI. THESE BROTHERS FACE THE DEMONS OF THE THE INTERMEDIATE WORLD AND THE WORLD BELOW. IN THE PAST THERE WERE MANY MORE SHAMANS THAN THERE ARE TODAY AND THEY WERE BELIEVED TO BE MORE POWERFUL THAN THEIR CONTEMPORARY COUNTERPARTS. MAGICAL POWER IS DERIVED FROM THE SHAMANS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SPIRITS OF CERTAIN TREES. CURING IS DONE BY MEANS OF SUCKING AND TOBACCO SMOKING. SOME SHAMANS ALSO CAUSE HARM BY EMITTING INVISIBLE THORNS.

NATIVELANGUAGES.ORG

SHARAHAHUA INDIANS IN PERU

THE SHARANAHA INDIANS OR GOD PEOPLE LIVE IN RIO PURUS,PERU. THESE INDIANS HAVE ONLY 90 PEOPLE AND THEY ALSO INCLUDE THE MASTANAWA, CHANDINAHUA AND PERHAPS JAMINAWA PEOPLES. THE FOLKS NUMBER 1300 - 1900. THEY SPEAK PANOAN. THE SHARANAHUA LIVED IN UPPER RIO TARUACO, TO THE NORTH. FLEEING A PERUVIAN ATTACK THEY MIGRATED TO THE RIO CURANJA IN ABOUT 1935. THEY LEFT THE CURANJA, AFTER HAVING MEASLES. IN THE NORTH THEY HAD EPIDEMICS OF THE FLU, WHOOPING COUGH AND MEASLES THAT CUT THEIR POPULATION IN HALF. THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF MAKING CANOES UNTIL 1960'S. A FEW NOW HAVE BEGUN TO BE MIGRANT LABORERS TO OBTAIN CASH. THEY TRADE SKINS OF JAGUARS AND OCELOTS WITH MERCHANTS ON THE RIVER. THEY GET MODERN ITEMS- GUNS, KNIVES, BELTS, RUM, NEEDLES AND FLASHLIGHTS. THEY GO DOWN THE RIVER TO SELL THEIR SKIN. PREVIOUSLY THEY WOULD KILL A TRADER WHO THEY THOUGHT HAD CHEATED THEM.

UNTIL THE 1950S THEIR GARDENS WERE IN UPLAND GARDENS. THEIR GARDENS ARE BOTH ON UPLANDS AND IN THE FLOODPLAINS. MEN GROW SLOW MATURING MANIOC IN SOILS THAT DID NOT FLOOD THEIR GARDENS PRODUCE 60 PERCENT OF SHARNAHUA FOOD.

WOMEN GATHERED VEGETABLES FRUITS AND FUNGI FROM THE FORESTS AND TAKE SHRIMP AND SMALL FISH LIVING IN WATERLOGGED BAMBOO FROM THE RIVER. THE MEN USE SHOT GUNS TO HUNT FOR DEER, PECCARIES, CAPYBARAS TO PACAS. SOME TIMES THEY WOULD END UP WITH A LESS DESIRABLE BIRD , OR GAME ANIMAL ORDEER. HUNTING IS THEIR ONE OCCUPATION OF OLDER BOYS AND MEN. IT PROVIDES 30% OF THEIR FOOD. DURING DRY SEASON, THEY USE POISON TO STUN THE FISH IN SHALLOW WATER. THE MEN SPEAR THE LARGER FISH FROM FROM CANOE WHILE WOMEN CATCH SMALL FISH

THE SARANAHUA VILLAGE IS SMALL USUALLY WELL UNDER 200 PEOPLE. THEY HAVE HOUSES LAID OUT IN TWO PARALLEL LINES. THE HOUSES ARE LARGE VERSIONS OF THE PERUVIANS IN THE JUNGLE. THEY MAKE THATCHED ROOFS ON TOP OF THEIR WOODEN HOUSES. THEY HAVE A RAINY SEASON SO THEY BUILD THEIR HOUSES A METER ABOVE GROUND. THEY HAVE DOMESTIC DOGS AND CHICKENS. THEY HAVE A SEPARATE COOK HOUSE . THESE HOUSES ARE CLEARED OF VEGETABLES THEY HAVE A SEPARATE COOK HOUSE . THESE HOUSES ARE CLEARED OF VEGETABLES TO PREVENT MICE, INSECTS, AND SNAKES.

EVERYCULTURE.ORG

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

SIONA INDIANS IN PERU

THESE INDIANS ARE OF UNCERTAIN ORIGIN. SIONA MEANS PEOPLE. SIONA IN ECUADOR ALSO USES THE TERMS SAW MINE BA OR UPRIVER PEOPLE AND THE SECONYA COMES FROM SAKOYA WHICH IS THE NAME OF A SMALL TRIBUTARY. THE THE SECOYA USE THE TERMS SUCH AS PEOPLE OF THE RIVER.

EUROPEAN CONTACT SPEAKERS OF WESTERN TUKANOAN OCCUPIED 82,000 KM. BY 1980 THE COMBINED POPULATION OF SIONA AND SEYCOYA WAS 350. THEIR POPULATION IN ECUADOR, COLUMBIA AND PERU DID NOT REACH 1000. THE WEST TUKANOAN POPULATION 16,000 BY EUROPEAN CONTACT BY 17TH AND 18TH CENTURIES MISSIONARIES REFERRED TO THE WESTERN TUKANOANS AS ENCABELLADO BECAUSE OF THEIR LONG HAIR.

THE SIONA LIVED IN SEMI PERMANENT HOUSES AND ARE CHARACTERIZED BY ISOLATED AND CLUSTERED HOUSEHOLDS TO LARGER VILLAGES OF 100 OR MORE FOLKS. THEY MOSTLY LIVED ALONG RIVERS.THEIR SETTLEMENTS WERE BASES FOR FORAGING TRIPS THEIR POPULATION DENSITY IS .02 PER SQUARE KM. THEY BELIEVED IN ANIMALISTIC OR THE NATURAL ORDER SUCH AS ANIMALS, TREES, RIVERS, SEND THE STARS THE CULTURE HERO "BAINA" MEANING WITH THE PEOPLE . HE IS THE MAIN PROTAGONIST OF THE ORIGIN AND HIS DEEDS OF TRANSFORMATION IN MYTHIC TIMES ACCOUNT FOR THE KNOWN EARTH. THEY BELIEVE IN A TIERED UNIVERSE AN UNDERWORLD, THE EARTH, AND CELESTIAL REALMS.

THEIR MAIN RITUAL IS THE YAHE CEREMONY THAT PRESIDED OVER THE SHAMAN. THE CEREMONIES OCCUR AT VARIOUS INTERVALS. IT DIAGNOSES ILLNESSES AND PUNISHES THE ENEMY OF THE SORCERER. THE SHAMAN IS THE LEADER AND IT IS A COMMUNAL CEREMONY. A HALLUCINOGENIC CEREMONY CALLED CYAHUASCA IS THE MEDIUM THROUGH WHICH CONTACT IS MADE WITH THE SPIRIT WORLD. DISEASE IS BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED BY MAGICAL DARTS OF SORCERERS. ILLNESS AND REBIRTH ARE EXPLAINED AS THE RESULT OF VIOLATING DIET OT OTHER TABOOS. SHAMANS TREAT ILLNESS WITH RITUAL MEDICINES.

EVERYCULTURE.COM

QUECHUA INDIANS IN PERU

THEY ARE THE LARGEST AMERICAN INDIAN GROUP IN THE WORLD TODAY WITH 2.5 MILLION FOLKS IN SOUTH AMERICA. THE QUECHUA INDIANS SPEAK MANY DIALECTS. THEY ARE COLLECTIVELY THE MOST WIDELY SPOKEN OF ALL INDIGENOUS GROUPS.

MANY MIGRATED EAST TO THE AMAZON BASIN. THEIR CULTURE DEVELOPED SEPARATELY FROM THAT OF THEIR SOUTHWARD MIGRATING COUSINS. THE RAINFOREST QUECHUA HAVE REMAINED MORE ISOLATED FROM HISTORIC FORCES. THE QUECHUA ARE PART OF THE ANDEAN BRANCH OF ANDEAN FAMILY. THEY ENCOMPASS FAR MORE SPEAKING THAN OTHER LANGUAGE GROUPS. QUECHIAN FAMILY LANGUAGE IS SPOKEN BY FOLKS IN PERU, ECUADOR, BOLIVIA, BRAZIL, ARGENTINA, COLUMBIA AND CHILI. THEY HAVE 28 QUECHUAN LANGUAGES. AS THE INCA EMPIRE EXPANDED THEIR LANGUAGE WAS QUECHUAN FROM NORTH ECUADOR TO CENTRAL CHILI. THE INCAS WERE CONQUERED BY THE SPANIARDSWHO SPREAD THE USE OF QUECHUA BEYOND THE INCA EMPIRE. IN COLONIAL TIMES THEY ACQUIRED MANY SPANISH CULTURAL ELEMENTS SUCH AS OXEN AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS, PLOWS, AND NEW CROPS AS WELL AS LOCAL GOVERNING COUNCILS. MANY MODERN QUECHUA WORK IN HACIENDAS OR ARE LABORERS IN HIGHLAND TOWNS.

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MAYORUNA INDIANS IN PERU

THERE ARE ABOUT 2000 PEOPLE WHO SPEAK PANOAN LANGUAGE. THEY LIVE IN SCATTERED GROUPS ALONG THE RIO JAVARI THAT IS BETWEEN PERU AND PERU IN BRAZIL. THE MAYORUNA VILLAGES HAVE A POPULATION OF VILLAGES HAVE A POPULATION 350. AFTER A CLASH IN 1978 BETWEEN MAYORUNA FACTIONS SOME MIGRATED FAR DOWN RIVER AND FOUND A NEW SETTLEMENT. THERE ARE NEW GROUPS OF UNCONTACTED MAYORUNA LIVING IN THE THE REGION. THERE NAME COMES FROM FROM QUECHUA ORIGIN. IN 1866 THE MAYORUNA ATTACKED MEMBERS OF THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION SURVEYING THE FRONTIER AFTER THE MAYORUNA REMAINED SETTLED. OTHERS BECAME HOSTILE GAINING A REPUTATION AS FIERCE CANNIBALS WHO MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR WHITES TO EXPLORE THE STRETCHES. THE GROUP LIVED UNDISTURBED FOR FORTY YEARS. THE MISSIONARIES FLEW PLANES OVER THEM AND DROPPED GIFTS. THEY AT FIRST DID NOT WANT THEM BUT LATER THEY GATHERED THE PRESENTS. THEY HAVE COLLECTIVE FISHING PARTIES AND SOME WOMEN HELP. THEY DRY ALL THEIR FISH BY SMOKING. THE HUNTER NEVER EATS THE GAME HE CATCHES. THEY PRACTICE SLASH AND BURN AGRICULTURE. AND HAVE THEIR FIELDS IN 300 M X 100 M IN SIZE. MEN PLANT MANIOC AND MAIZE AND WOMEN PLANT BANANAS AND OTHER CROPS. THESE INCLUDE YAMS, POTATOES, SUGAR CANE, A FISH POISON, ARROW CANES COTTON AND OTHER PLANTS. THE MISSIONARIES HAVE INTRODUCED OTHER IDEAS AND CROPS TO THEM.

ALL MAYORUNA - MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDRE TATTOO THEIR LIPS AND ACROOS THEIR CHEEKS. THEY USE A FISH BONE TO TATTOO. THEY MAKE SMALL PERFORATIONS AROUND THE UPPER LIP.

THEY WORKED FOR WHITES AS SKIN HUNTERS BUT THEY ARE STILL LITTLE INVOLVED IN THE REGIONAL ECONOMY. THEIR HEALTH IS PROBABLY SUFFERING LESS THAN MOST OF OTHER RECENTLY CONTACTED GROUPS BECAUSE ON BOTH THE BRAZILIAN AND PERUVIAN SIDE THEY HAVE IMMUNIZATIONS. FEW PEOPLE ARE OVER 50 YEARS OLD SUGGESTING THAT EPIDEMIC DISEASES TOOK A HEAVY TOLL. THE JAVARI INDIAN PARK OF 80,000 SQ. KM WILL PROVIDE FOR THEM MANY RESOURCES.

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JEBERO INDIANS IN PERU

THE JEBERO USED TO LIVE IN THE AREA MARANON HUALLAGA RIVERS, BUT THEY ARE NOW IN CATHOLIC MISSIONS. THERE ARE ABOUT 3000. ONLY THE OLDER OF THE FOLKS SPEAK THE NATIVE LANGUAGE. MOST FOLKS SPEAK THE NATIVE LANGUAGE. MOST FOLKS SPEAK SPANISH AND QUECHUA. BY THE LATE 1600'S THEY ACCEPTED PROTECTION OF THE MISSION. IN THE
1640'S SODO JEBERO GATHERED AT CONCEPTION DE XEVERO. THEY LEFT THIS MISSION BECAUSE OF FEAR OF BEING ENSLAVED BUT LATER THEY RETURNED BECAUSE OF FAMINE. BECAUSE OF FAMINE. THEY REMAINED AN THERE THROUGH THE 18TH CENTURY. IN 1859 ABOUT 2000 JEBERO WORKED AS PEONS. THE PARANAPURA ARE A GROUP OF WHOSE ANCESTORS WERE JEBERO BUT ESCAPED THE SLAVE RAIDERS. THEY MARRIED THE MUNICHI INDIANS. THEIR POPULATION WAS REDUCED BY RUBBER TAPPERS IN THE EARLY 1900'S.

TRADITIONALLY THEY WERE HORTICULTURALISTS WHO GREW WHO GREW SWEET POTATOES.AND MARRIED THE MUNICHI INDIANS. THEIR POPULATION WAS REDUCED BY RUBBER TAPPERS IN THE EARLY 1900'S. TRADITIONALLY HORTICULTURALISTS WHO GREW SWEET POTATOES., CORN, MANIOC, COTTON, BANANAS AND SUGAR CANE. THEIR LAND WAS NOT THAT FERTILE, SO THEY MOVED TO NEW GARDEN SITES EVERY TWO YEARS. THEY FOUND LITTLE GAME. THEY SPEERED MANATEES AND FISHED. THEY KNOWN FOR THEIR COTTON WEAVING SKILLS AND MADE DECORATED POTTERY.

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Monday, December 5, 2011

HUARAYO IN PERU

THE HUARAYO ARE IN SOUTH AMERICA IN PERUVIAN MADRE DE DIOS. THEIR NAME HUARAYO DATES TO INCA TIMES. THEY LIVED ON THE RIVER BASIN. IN 1990'S THE HUARAYO LIVE IN A FEW SCATTERED LOCALES. AT THIS TIME THERE WERE 3000 PEOPLE. THERE IS NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF THE HUARAYO. THE MADRE DE DIOS AND BENI VALLEYS WERE PROBABLY ONE OF THE MIGRATED ROUTES FOR PROTO - ARAWAKANS. THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF WEAVING AND RAISING MAIZE CAME FROM ANDEAN INDIANS.

IN 1539 HUARAYO CONTACTS BEGAN WITH PEDRO ANZULES. AT ABOUT 1587 HIS MISSIONARIES CAME HERE SEVERAL TYPES OF MISSIONS WERE BUILT, THE HUARAYO WERE UNDER PRESSURE TO MOVE CLOSER TO RIO MADRE DE DIAS. IN THE 1900'S THE DOMINICAN MISSIONARIES STARTED TO OPERATE IN IN THEIR AREA. THE SECOND WAVE OF RUBBER BOOM HAD A HARMFUL EFFECT IN 1941 TO 1945. THE REMAINING HUARAYO FAMILIES SETTLED ON THE BANKS OF THE MADRE DE DIOS. IN 1960 THEY CHOSE A PLACE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE RIVER AND BUILT A VILLAGE CALLED ALMAREAL. THESE FOLKS DID NOT BECOME ACCULTURATED. IN THE PAST THEY WERE DIVIDED INTO MANY LOCAL GROUPS THE EXTENDED FAMILIES USUALLY NAMED THEMSELVES AFTER FAMILIES. ABOUT 150 INDIANS LIVED AT TRINDO CONCEPTION MISSION, BUT THEY HAD EPIDEMICS AND THE MISSION CLOSED.

CHRISTIANITY WAS NOT ESPECIALLY STRONG. ANIMISM IS NOT ESPECIALLY STRONG. THEY FEARED EVIL SPIRITS. THEY BELIEVE PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING OR LIVING THING HAS A SPIRIT COMPONENT. THE MOST POWERFUL SPIRITS ARE THE EDOSIKIANI AND THE WATER SPIRIT-ENASHAGRIA. THE HUARAYO BELIEVE THAT ANIMALS ORIGINATED BY METAMORPHIS FROM HUMANS. THEIR SHAMANS MEDIATE BETWEEN THE LIVING PEOPLE AND THE SOULS AFTER DEAD. THE SHAMAN IS A HEALER. THE SHAMAN HEALS BY SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICINAL HERBS. THIS KNOWLEDGE IS PASSED TO HIS ELDEST SON. HE HAS MANY CURING PRACTICES THEY USE A HIGH PITCH WHISTLING TO CURE ULCERS OF A HIGH PATIENT.

THEIR ART IS LIMITED TO BODY AND FACE PAINTING. THEY MADE FAEATHER DIADEMS AND NECKLACES FROM ANIMAL TEETH. THEIR MYTHOLOGY DIADEMS THEY MADE FEATHER DIADEMS AND NECLACES FROM ANIMAL TEETH. THEIR MYTHOLOGY TREATS THE ORIGIN MYTH OF THE HURAYO AND THE FLOOD. THEY BELIEVE ANIMALS USED TO LIVE AS PEOPLE.

TO CURE PEOPLE A SHAMAN MAY USE HERBS, OR BLOW TOBACCO. FUMES OVER THE PATIENT, SING MASSAGE TO THE AFFECTED PART OF THE BODY. THEY SUCK THE PAINFUL PLACE . EVERY MAN THEY BELIEVE POSSESSES THREE SOULS. THE FIRST SOUL THINKS AND TALKS AFTER THE DEATH OF A PERSON. THE SECOND SOUL LEAVES FOR THE DEPTH OF WATERS. AND THE THIRD STAYS AND LOOKS AFTER THE BODY. FOOD IS BURIED WITH THE DECEASED.

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CULINA INDIANS IN PERU

THESE INDIANS SPEAK ARAVAN LANGUAGE IN PERU. THERE ARE 2500 PEOPLE. THEY LIVE ALONG RIVERS OF THE PEOREES - JURUA IN BRAZIL AND SOME VILLAGES ARE IN PERU. PREHISTORY OF THE ARAWAKEN OR CULINA INDIANS IS HOTLY DEBATED. ONE THEORY SAYS THEY LIVED NEAR THE PRESENT CITY OF MANORIS ABOUT 3000 B.C. AND MOVED UP THE AMAZON RIVER. THERE IS NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH.

THE CULINA ARE MENTIONED BY THE EARLY 1800'S BY EXPLORER CASTELNAU AND BATES. THEY LIVED IN THE FOREST. THEY SAID THEY WERE FEARED BY THE LOCAL RIVERINE GROUPS THEY AVOIDED RUBBER TAPPERS WHO CAME HERE IN THE LATE 1800'S THEY WERE ATTRACTED TO THE MAJOR RIVERS AND ARRIVAL OF BRAZILIAN MANUFACTURING GOODS.

THESE CULINA WERE WORKERS FOR THE RUBBER TAPPERS AND FARMERS ALONG THE RIVERS. ALTHOUGH SEVERAL GROUPS HAVE RESISTED EXTENSIVE CONTACT WITH NONCULINA FOLKS, THEY HAVE CONTACTS WITH BRAZILIAN RESOURCES AND HAVE DEVELOPED RELIANCE ON SOME OF THEIR ECONOMY.

THE SUMMER INSTITUTE OF CULINA LINGUISTICS HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN "PERUVIAN VILLAGE THAT HAS A CATHOLIC MISSION. THEY STILL STRUGGLE TO TO HQVE THEIR INDIGENOUS AREAS OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED TO GUARENTEE THEIR EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO AND USE OF THEIR LANDS IN THE RIO PURUS THAT THEY HAD FOR CENTURIES. THEY LIVED IN THE FOREST AND BUILT VILLAGES OF A SINGLE LARGE STRUCTURE IN THE FORESTS AND BUILT VILLAGES.

THE SUMMER INSTITUE OF CULINA LINGUISTICS HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN A PERUVIAN VILLAGE THAT HAS A CATHOLIC MISSION. THEY STILL STRUGGLE WITH TO HAVE THEIR INDIGENOUS AREAS OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED TO GUARENTEE THEIR EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO AND USE OF LANDS. A LARGE AREA CALLED THE RIO PERUS HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED. THEY LIVED IN THE FORESTS AND BUILT VILLAGES OF A SINGLE LARGE STRUCTURE LIKE ANA FRAME WITH TWO SLOPING ROOFS THAT EXTENDED TO THE GROUND (MALOCA STYLE). OR LONGHOUSE. FAMILIES WERE IN SEPARATE AREAS. A CENTRAL SPACE WAS USED FOR RITUALS AND OTHER COMMUNAL ACTIVITIES. THIS HOUSE COULD ACCOMODATE 300 INDIVIDUALS.

ONCE THEY MOVED CLOSER TO RIVERS AND PRODUCED INDIVIDUAL EXTENDED FAMILIES, WHO BUILT SEPARATE HOUSES ABOUT A METER ABOVE THE GROUND. THEY HAD AN OPEN ROOFED PLATFORM FOR SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND A SMALL FOR SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND A SMALL ATTACHED AREA FOR COOKING.

THEY BELIEVE IN ANIMAL SPIRITS. A CULTURAL HERO KIRA, LIVES IN THE CSK , ANIMAL SPIRITS WHO LIVE UNDERGROUNDIN A WORLD CALLED NAMIBUDI. KIRA IS CONSIDERED TO BE REMOTE AQND CREATED THE CULINA. HE RETREATED TO THE SKY AND HAS NO MORE CONTACT WITH THIS WORLD.

THE MISSIONARIES IDENTIFY KIRA WITH GOD BUT CONSIDER THE TOKORIME SATANIC. A FEW PERUVIANS ARE CHRISTIANS, BUT MOST RETAIN THEIR TRADITIONS. SHAMANS ARE ACTIVE IN IN CURING RITUALS. WHEN DEATH OCCURS THEY CALL PECCARIES TO THE FOREST FOR HUNTING. MEN ARE THEIR SHAMANS. SHAMANS CONDUCT CURING RITUALS. CEREMONIES ARE HELD DURING DRY SEASONS ROUGHLY FOR 6 MONTHS. THEY DRINK A FERMENTED DRINK OF MANIOC AND VOMIT IT. IT IS QUITE WIERD. THIS CEREMONY RITUALIZES THEMES OF HUNTING VS. HORTICULTURE, AS WELL AS MALE VS. FEMALE. SHAMANS CONDUCT NIGHT CEREMONIES
BY SUCKING OUT AN ILLNESS FROM THE BODY.

THEY MAKE FEATHER ORNAMENTS, NECKLACES AND BRACELETS OF SMALL SEEDS OR BEADS AND WEAVE COTTON ARM BANDS. BOYS MAKE SMALL FLUTES. SINGING AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THEIR RITUALS.

THEY USED A VARIETY OF LEAVES FOR MINOR CUTS, SCRATCHES, ACHES OR PAINS. THEY USED LEAVES TO HEAL SCRATCHES, ACHES AND PAINS.WHEN FOLKS HAD MORE SERIOUS ILLNESSES IT WAS A RESULT OF A SUBSTANCE CALLED DORI INJECTED INTO THE BODY BY A WITCH. OR A SHAMAN CAN EXTRACT ILLNESS ONCE HE IS IN A TRANCE BY SMOKING TOBACCO. ONCE IN THE TRANCE HE CAN SUCK OUT HE CAN SUCK OUT AN ILLNESS. THE CULINA ALSO TURN TO BRAZILIAN MEDICATIONS.

ONCE SOMEONE DIES A SHAMAN LEADS THE SOLE TO AN UNDERWORLD WHERE IT ENTERS A VILLAGE MUCH LIKE IT'S EARTHLY HOME. BUT IT IS POPULATED BY WHITE LIPPED PECCARIES. THEY BELIEVE IN A TYPE OF REINCARNATION.

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CHAYAHUITA INDIANS IN PERU

THESE INDIANS ONCE LIVED IN RIO TILLAY IN PERU. THE 17TH SLAVE RAIDS CUT THEIR POPULATION DRASTICALLY AND WERE PROBABLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PUSHING MOST OF THEM TO THEIR PRESENT LOCATION IN THE REGION OF THE HEADWATERS OF THE RIO PARANAPURA AS WELL AS TO THE REGION AS WELL AS TO THE CHAHUAPANAS RIVER. THEIR POPULATION IS 6000. SOME OF THE CHAYAHUITA LIVED AT A JESUIT MISSION FOR A FEW YEARS AFTER IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1654. THEY EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO FOREST AFTER THE MISSIONARIES LEFT. SOME 400 LIVED IN AT ANOTHER MISSION IN THE 18TH CENTURY. THES INDIANS ARE IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH WHITES AND ENTER THE CASH ECONOMY BY RAISING AND SELLING RICE, BEANS, AND CHICKINS. EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE CLOSE, MOST SPEAK CHAYAHUITA LANGUAGE.

THEY RAISED SWEET POTATOES, MANIOC, AND MAIZE. THEY HUNTED WITH BLOWGUNS, BOWS AND ARROWS, BLINDS AND TRAPS. THE TRADITIONAL HOUSE WAS PROBABLY GABLED AND HAD WALLS. THE FOLKS SLEPT ON PLATFORMS, BEDS AND RESTED ON HAMMOCKS. THEY MADE 3 TYPES OF BASKETS, SEIVES, CONTAINERS AND CARRYING BASKETS. THEIR POTTERY WAS DISTINCTIVE - IT WAS INCISED WITH FINGERNAILS AND COLORED WHITE ON TOP AND RED ON THE BOTTOM. FIRE WAS STARTED USING A FIRE DRILL. THEY TRIBE MOSTLY WERE NAKED AND SOME DECORATED THEIR BODY WITH FEATHERS IN THEIR HAIR, BLACKENED THEIR TEETH, AND TATTOED THEIR BODIES WITH PALM NEEDLES AND RUBBER SOFT PIGMENT. THEY WORE SPANISH CLOTHES BY THE 1700'S.

DURING PUBERTY THE GIRLS WERE IN SEPARATE HOUSES FOR 8 DAYS. AFTER MARRIAGE THEIR RESIDENCE WAS MATRILOCAL FOR A PERIOD THEN PERMANENTLY PATRILOCAL. AFTER A BABY IS BORN THE PARENTS ARE CONFINED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. CHRISTIANITY HAS LARGELY REPLACED NATURE BELIEFS.

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CHURCH OF RELIGOUS SCIENCE

TODAY I WAS AMAZED AT WHAT WAS PRESENTED AT THE CHURCH I ATTEND. THERE WERE ABOUT 15 PEOPLE DRESSED IN INDIAN STYLE AND SOME FOLKS INCLUDING OUR MINISTER WERE PLAYING INSTRUMENTS. ONE LADY HAD A RED DOT ON HER HEAD AS THEY DO IN INDIA. AND SHE FROM BERKLEY ANOTHER DRUMMER WAS GREAT. WE WERE WAS GREAT . WE WERE INVITED TO SING ALONG AS THE INDIAN CHANTING WORDS WERE PROJECTED ON THE FRONT WALL.THEY WERE SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT TO PRONOUNCE. SOME OF THE WORDS WERE ONE OR TWO SYLLABLES WHILE OTHERS WERE MORE DIFFICULT. AFTER THE FIRST SERVICE WENT TO THE LOBBY TO SAY HIGH TO SEVERAL FOLKS AND SPEAK TO A GUY WHO DESIGNED A STRANGE INSTRUMENT THAT VIBRATED SOUND AND LOOKED LIKE A METAL BED FRAME POST. IT WAS PRETTY WEIRD. I WENT TO THE BOOKSTORE AND SAW A WOODEN BUDDHA THAT WAS ABOUT $100. I HAD BOUGHT ONE FOR ONLY $30 AT A ANTIQUE STORE SO I GOT A GOOD PRICE. THEN I DECIDED TO STAY FOR ANOTHER SESSION OF CHANTING WHICH MADE ME THINK OF GOING TO INDIA. SOMEDAY I WILL GO WITH MY AUNT AND FAMILY TO INDIA. I MET SOME NEW PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING BESIDE ME THIS CHURCH HAS NO BAPTISM. AND MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE ATTENDED A CEREMONY HERE FOR GETTING REMARRIED BY THIS MINISTER YEARS AGO. HE IS FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

FINLEY CENTER ON HOLIDAY CRAFTS

TODAY I ENJOYED AND MEETING MANY ARTISTS WHO CAME FROM VARIOUS CITIES IN CALIFORNIA TO SELL THEIR CRAFTS. ONE LADY LOOKED FAMILIAR AS I HAD BEEN BEEN TO THIS FAIR LAST YEAR. SHE WAS ADDICTED TO BEADS AND MAKING JEWELRY. SHE TOLD US 5 PLACES WHERE SHE BOUGHT HER BEADS. A NEARBY ARTIST WAS AN EXPERT IN CARVING AND INCISING DESIGNS. ON GOURDS. SOME OF THEM HAD LEATHER STRAPS. IT WAS IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE SOMETHING THE NATIVE AMERICANS MIGHT HAVE MADE. I LISTENED TO A QUARTET OF PEOPLE WHO PLAYED MEDIEVAL SONGS WITH VARIOUS RECORDERS. I BOUGHT A CD FROM AN EXCELLENT HARP PLAYER.

THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE THERE THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN HELD HERE FOR MANY YEARS. THERE WERE SOME MALE ARTISTS AS WELL. SOME MADE NEAT CARVED WOODEN HIKING STICKS. ANOTHER MAN MADE I HAD SEEN AT THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT MARKET SOLD RAKU POTTERY. IT IS BEAUTIFUL AND EXPENSIVE. I ALSO SAW A CHINESE MAN WHO MADE WOODEN DESKS AND CHAIRS FOR CHILDREN. THERE WERE A TRIO OF LADIES WHO DID SOME YARN CRAFTS WITH ORNAMENT WERE HAVING FUN SHOWINF THEIR ITEMS. THEY MADE SOME POT HOLDERS AND SOME SILLY CRAFTS. MANY LADIES HAD THE SKILL OF MAKING JEWELRY OF VARIOUS TYPES. MANY WERE OF FINE SILVER WITH VARIOUS BEADS, SOME WITH GLASS BEADS, OTHERS WITH TURQOISE. ONE MANCARVED THE BOTTOM OF WINE BARRELS INTO VARIOUS SCENES OF HUNTING, WILD ANIMALS, ETC AND THEY COST FROM $700 TO $1000. ANOTHER NICE LADY EXPLAINED HOW SHE PAINTED TULE AND OTHER DESIGNS ON WOODEN PLATES, VARIOUS HISTORIC WOODEN BOARDS, POTS, KETTLES, AND CHRISTMAS POSTS AND CARVED WOOD.

ANOTHER ARTIST MADE GLASS PIECES FOR NECKLASSES AND PLATES. SHE USED A TECHNIQUE WHERE SHE CUT THE SHAPE OF GLASS AND ADDED VARIOUS COLORS IN A TYPE OF "SUPERIMPOSED DESIGN" TO GIVE IT DEPTH. SHE PUT THESE PIECES ON SILVER NECKLACES AFTER SHE FIRED THEM IN A KILN. I SPOKE WITH ANOTHER LADY WHO HAD SEVERAL LARGE FLOOR LOOMS. SHE MADE SOME INTERESTING SCARVES THAT WERE TIGHTLY WOVEN OF ACRYLIC, COTTON, AND FINE WOOL. THEY WERE GORGEOUS AND EXPENSIVE. SHE SAID SHE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT BACKSTRAP LOOMS. SHE AND HER DAUGHTER LOOKED ALMOST LIKE SISTERS! SEVERAL LADIES WERE MADE VARIOUS SHEA BUTTER CREAMS THAT SMELLED DIFFERENT. I TRIED SOME OF THES ON MY HANDS. THE AROMATHERY BOTTLES HAD ESSENCES OF VARIOUS HERBS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO ENLIGHTEN YOU FROM ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION AND OTHER AILMENTS. ANOTHER ARTIST MADE KILN FIRED GLASS PLATES.

OTHER LADIES MADE SOME QUILTS FOR TABLE COVERS, SOME SEWED, NEAT OLD FASHIONED
KITCHEN APRONS. THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE MAKING CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS. THE KIDS KEPT
BUSY OUTSIDE USING HIULA HOOPS.

A MEXICAN LADY AND SEVERAL OTHERS MADE LIVE WREATHS OF EUCALYPTUS, AND VARIOUS LIVE OR DIVIDED PODS AND BERRIES. ANOTHER MADE WREATHS FROM PINE CONES.
THE FAIR EVENT ATTRACTED MOSTLY WOMEN FROM 40 TO 80. AN INTERESTING PART OF THE EVENT A RAFFLE OF OF CRAFTS FROM EACH ARTIST WHO PARTICIPATED. WE TOLD EACH OTHER OUR STORIES.

Friday, December 2, 2011

AGUARUNA INDIANS IN PERU

THE AGUARUNA INDIANS SPEAK A JIVAROAN LANGUAGE OF SOUTH AMERICA. IT IS SPOKEN BY 30,0000 PEOPLE IN NORTHERN PERU. THESE PEOPLE LIVE IN VARIOUS TOWNS ALONG THE RIVER OF MARANON AND SANTIAGO. THEY LIVE IN ELEVATIONS OF 200 TO 1000 METERS IN PERU. ONCE THE SPANISH CAME HERE, THE AGUARUNA HAD BEEN FIGHTING INCA FOR SOME TIME. THEY WERE FIRST CONTACTED BY SPANISH IN 1549. ALTHOUGH CONTACT WITH ANGLOS REDUCED THEIR POPULATION THEY DEFEATED THE SPANISH IN 1600. THEY DID NOT ACCEPT CATHOLICISMIN THE 1970'S MANY AGUARUNA GROUPS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF CHANGE IN PERUVIAN LAW AND RECEIVED OWNERSHIP OF THEIR LANDS. THEY NOW COMMUNICATE IN SPANISH AND QUECHUA. THEY PRIMARILY DO SWIDDEN HORTICULTURE AND THEY HAVE HUNT AND FISH. THEY RAISED SWEET MANIOC, PLAINTAIN, MAIZE AND BEANS, POTATOES. COTTON TOBACCO AND OTHER CROPS. THEY RAISE LIVESTOCK AND SELL ANIMAL SKINS.

THEIR VILLAGES ARE SEMI-PERMANENT AND HAVE UP TO 150 INHABITANTS. VILLAGES HAVE BECOME MORE CENTRALIZED AND HAVE UP TO 150 INHABITANTS. THE VILLAGES HAVE A SCHOOL NEARBY.THEY HAVE DEFENDED THEIR TERRITORY BY DRESSING UP IN FIERCE-LOOKING COSTUMES. THEY USE SWIDDEN AGRICULTURE AND THEY AVOID WITCHCRAFT. THEIR OVAL HOUSE HAS BEEN REPLACED BY SMALLER RECTANGULAR HOUSES.

THE HEADMEN OR VILLAGE CHIEF'S POWER DEPENDS ON THE NUMBER OF HIS KIN. THEY HAVE A DESIRE TO REMAIN WITH THEIR KIN AND MARRY WITHIN CERTAIN SOCIAL UNITS. MAGIC IS IMPORTANT AND THEY SING SPECIAL SONGS TO AID IN SEDUCTION, HUNTING, GARDENING, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. THEIR SONGS CAN BECOME VERY SPECIALIZED. SHAMANS ARE OF TWO TYPES:IWISHIN OR TAJIMAT TUNCHI (CURING SHAMANS) AND WAWEK TUNCHI(SORCERERS). THE SAME PERSON MAY BE SORCERERS. SORCERERS INFLICT ILLNESS BY USING SPIRIT DARTS, AND CURING SHAMANS CURE BY USING DARTS TO ELIMINATE SORCERERS.

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ACHUVAR INDIANS IN PERU

THE ACHUVAR CULTURE IS INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT. THESE FOLKS LIVE IN THE PASTAZA, HUCASAGA, AND OTHER RIVERS. THEY HAVE ABOUT 77 ANCESTRAL COMMUNITIES AND 12,000PEOPLE. THEY THREE MAIN ORGANIZATIONS. THESE PEOPLE LIVE IN THE RAIN FOREST FOR CENTURIES UNTIL THE 1970'S. THEY HAVE TRADITIONS THAT ARE STILL IMPORTANT AND THEIR LAND IS UNTOUCHED BY LOGGING OR OIL COMPANIES. THEY HAVE MACAWS AND THEY HAVE FOUGHT FOR CONSERVATION. THEY LIVE IN HARMONY WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENT WHERE ALL ANIMALS AND PLANTS HAVE HUMAN -LIKE ATTRIBUTES WITH A SOUL AND AN INDEPENDANT LIFE. ACCORDING TO THEM EVERY PLANT AND ANIMAL CAN BE UNDERSTOOD BY ITS OWN LANGUAGE AND THE ACHUAR UNDERSTANDS THEM.

THEY KNOW EVERY TYPE OF TREE AND EVERY ANIMAL SPECIES. THEY HAVE THEY KNOW WHERE TO FISH, HOW TO HUNT, AND WHEN TO SEED THEIR CROPS. THE FOREST IS THEIR MOTHER.

THE ACHUAR BELIEVE WHEN SOMEONE DIES SOME PARTS OF THEIR BODY WILL REINCAARNATE INTO ANIMALS. THE IWIANCA ANIMALS ARE FORMS OF A PERSON'S SOUL. THESE ARE NEVER HUNTED OR EATEN BY THEM TO DO SO WOULD BE CANNALBALISM.

THEY KNOW EVERY 500 SPECIES OF BIRDS IN THEIR FOREST. EACH PERSON KNOWS EACH TREE AND CAN EXPLAIN THEIR MEDICINAL AND PRACTICAL USES. THEY HAVE EXPERT GUIDES OR BIOLOGISTS TO GIVE YOU VALUABLE INFORMATION.

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Thursday, December 1, 2011

ALEUTIAN ISLAND INDIANS

CULTURAL SURVIVAL OF THE ALEUTS OF THE PRIBOLOS ISLANDS IN ALASKA IS ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL.THEY WERE TAKEN FROM THEIR HOMES ON THE ALEUTIAN CHAIN TO TWO HUNDRED UNINHABITED AND ISOLATED ISLANDS IN THE CENTRAL BERING SEA. THE PRIBILOF ALEUTS WERE FORCED INTO SERVICE TO KILL SEA MAMMALS FOR TWO COLONIAL REGIMES - FIRST RUSSIA AND THEN THE U.S. THE ALEUTS WERE A COG IN A WHEEL OF A MASSIVE FUR INDUSTRY THAT LASTED 200 YEARS FROM WHICH THEIR CULTURAL HISTORY DEVELOPED.

THE SEAL HUNTERS ARE DESCENDANTS OF THE GREAT MARITIME RAIDS OF THE ALEUTS WHO SETTLED ALONG THE ALEUTIAN ARCHIPELAGO, A 1300 KM CHAIN OF ISLANDS EXTENDING SOUTHWARD TO ALASKA. RUSSIANS CALLED THEM ALEUTS, BUT THEIR NAME IS CALLED UMANGAN WHICH MEANS THE COAST. THEY MIGRATED ACROSS BERING STRAIT LAND BRIDGE FROM ASIA BETWEEN 12,000 TO 15,000 YEARS AGO. AN EARLY ESKIMO ALEUT CULTURE BEGAN TO DEVELOP ABOUT 8000 YEARS AGO IN THE BERING SEA. THEY LATER BRANCHED TO THE DISTINCTIVE CULTURE AND LANGUAGE OF THE UMANGAN ALONG THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS. AN ESKIMO CULTURE DEVELOPED. AN ESKIMO CULTURE DEVELOPED ABOUT 8,000 YEARS AGO AND BRANCHED INTO THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS. THEY LIVED IN SEMI SUBTERRANEAN AND RIGOROUS CLIMATE. THEY PASSED SPECIAL SKILLS FOR HUNTING MARITIME MAMMALS FROM THEIR KAYAKS.

THE RUSSIAN FUR TRADERS WERE HERE AFTER 1750 TO HUNT SEA OTTERS AND SEALS. IN THE FIRST 50 YEARS OF RUSSIAN FUR TRADER.

AFTER FIFTY YEARS OF RUSSIAN CONTROL THE ALEUTS DIED FROM DISEASES, WARS, MALNUTRITION, AND PRIVATION CAUSED BY THE TRANSPORT OF HUNTERS AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES TO HUNT SEA MAMMALS FOR THE RUSSIANS.

THE ALEUT POPULATION WAS ESTIMATED TO HAVE BEEN BETYWEEN 12000 TO 15000. TODAY THERE ARE ABOUT 2,000 ALEUTS AND ONLY 340 SPEAK ALEUT LANGUAGE. IN 1786 A RUSSIAN MAN,PRIBOLOF, DISCOVERED TWO ISLANDS AND THEY WERE GIVEN THIS NAME. THESE ISLANDS TWO ISLANDS AND THEY WERE GIVEN HIS NAME. THESE ISLANDS ARE THE GREATEST CONCENTRATION OF NORTHERN PACIFIC FUR SEALS IN THE WORLD. THE RUSSIAN TRADERS HAD NEARLY ELIMINATED THE SEA OTTER AND WERE LOOKING AND WERE SEEKING THE MOST NEXT MOST VALUABLE SOURCE OF FURS. THE DISCOVERY OF THE PRIBOLOFS EXTENDED THE RUSSIAN FUR TRADE IN AMERICAS FOR ANOTHER CENTURY.

THE ALEUT HUNTERS WERE TAKEN TO THE ISLANDS OFTEN WITHOUT CHOICE ON A SEASONAL BASIS AND BY THE 1820'S PERMENENT SETLEMENT WERE ON A SEASONAL BASIS AND BY THE 1820'S PERMAMNENT SETTLEMENT WERE ON THE TWO ISLANDS. SEALS WERE KILLED RUTHLESSLY, WHEN THE RUSSIAN AMERICAN COMPANY ESTABLISHED A LICENSED FUR SEAL MONOPOLY. CONSERVATION OF THE SEALS WAS ENFORCED BY TAKING ON 3 TO 5 YEAR OLD NONBREEDING MALES, AND PROHIBITING TAKING ANY FEMALE SEALS.

A GREAT SHOCK CAME TO THE THE ALEUTS AS THEY LOST THEIR SEA NAVIGATION AND SEA HUNTING SKILLS ON THE PRIBOLOFS AS THEY WERE FORCED INTO A LAND BASED INDUSTRY THAT INTERFERED WITH THEIR TRADITIONAL SUBSISTENCE ACTIVITIES. THE MEN WORKED TO FISH OR HUNT DURING THE SEALING MONTHS. THEY WORKED FOR A COMPANY TO HARVEST SEALS IN ASSEMBLY LINES. WOMEN AND CHILDREN GATHER SEAL MEAT TO SALT FOR WINTER USE. DURING WINTER THE MEN HUNTED STELLAR SEA LIONS FROM SHORE. THEY HAD TO HAVE STRICT HUNTING ETHICS FOR ELDERS. THEIR OTHER FOODS WERE DUCKS, REINDEER, HALIBUT AND SEA EGGS. THEY DEVELOPED AN EXTENSIVE TRADE NETWORK BETWEEN THE PRIBOLOF ALEUTS AND THEIR RELATIVES ON THE OTHER ISLANDS. THE ALEUTS HAD OTHER INSTRUCTIONS FROM THEIR SHAMANS REGARDING HUNTING, TABOOS, WEATHER, AND PREDICTIONS FOR THE FUTURE. SUN AND SEALIFE WERE SACRED SOURCES OF LIFE. THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOXRESPECTED THEIR ORTHODOX CHURCH RESPECTED THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. ALL OF THEIR SUBSISTANCE STRATEGIES RECEIVE THE PREIST'S BLESSING.

THE MAIN CHALLENGE WAS A LARGE ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT TO TO SEAL KILLING. THERE WERE MANY MEASURES TAKEN. IN 1983 THEIR WERE MANY MEASURES TAKEN. IN 1983 THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WITHDREW $6.2. MILLION IN ANNUAL ALLOCATIONDOLLARS FROM THE PRIBILOFS. THEN THE U.S. WITHDREW FROM THE INTERNATIONAL FUR SEAL TREATY, LEAVING THE THE NORTHERN FUR SEAL WITHOUT INTERNATIONAL TREATY MIGRATORY PROTECTION. THE LEADERS HAD THE DIFFICULT TASK OF BALANCING TRADITIONAL VALUES WITH ELEMENTS OF WESTERN CULTURE. THEY NEEDED TO BALANCE AND MANAGE AND PLAN THEIR DESTINY. THEY HAVE SUCCEEDED IN A SHORT PERIOD MIRACULOUSLY.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.COM

MI'KMAQ INDIANS OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

MI'KMAQ LANGUAGE IS AN ALGONQUIAN LANGUAGE SPOKEN BY 8000 INDIANS IN THE CANADIAN MARITIMES AND SOME U.S. TOWNS. THEIR LANGUAGE USED TO BE WRITTEN IN PICTOGRAPHS. THE PICTOGRAPHS WERE MODIFIED BY MISSIONARIES WHO USED THEM TO TEACH CHRIST PRAYERS TO THE MIKMAQ. THEY DON'T RESEMBLE EGYPT OR MAYAN HIEROGLYPHS. THE MIKMAQ IS ENTIRELY NATIVE TO THE NEW WORLD AND IS RELATED TO OTHER NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN LANGUAGES LIKE LENAPE. THE MIKMAQ IS A LANGUAGE THAT A NUMBER OF CHILDREN LEARN. HOWEVER IT IS DECLINING SINCE THE 1970'S.

THESE INDIANS ARE INDIGENOUS TO EASTERN CANADA. THEIR ORIGINAL NAME LUN'K OR THE PEOPLE. THEY LIKE TO DO PORCUPINE ART. THEY HAD A NUMBER OF ALLIES WHO FORMED WHO FORMED HISTORIC WABANAKI CONFEDERACY. TODAY THERE ARE ABOUT 25,000 MI'KMAQ TODAY. THEY STILL IVE ON TRADITIONAL LAND. THEY ALLIED WITH THE FRENCH, BUT DID NOT PICK THE WINNING SIDE ON THE FIGHT FOR NOVA SCOTIA. THE FRENCH DID NOT MASSACRE ON THE MI'KMAQ NOR INFRINGE ON THEIR TERRITORY.

THE ENGLISH WERE ASSISTED TO DEPORT THE FRENCH. BUT THE MI'KMAQ REMAIN HERE TODAY.

A MI'KMAQ CREATION MYTH - BEFORE THE EARTH WAS NEW THE SUN WAS ALL THAT EXISTED IN THE UNIVERSE. THE SUN DIVIDED THE EARTH INTO SEVERAL PARTS. IN EACH PART THE SUN CAUSED A MAN AND A WOMAN TO BE BORN. THEY BORE CHILDREN AND LIVED FOR MANY YEARS . WICKEDNESS PERVADED THIS FAMILY, AND SLOWLY THEY KILLED ONE ANOTHER. THE SUN WEPT IN GRIEF. THE TEARS BECAME RAIN THAT FILLED AND COVERED THE EARTH WITH WATER. THEY BUILT BARK CANOES TO SAVE THEMSELVES FROM THE FLOOD. A VIOLENT WIND OVERTURNED THEIR BOATS. ALL PERISHED IN THE SEA. HOWEVER AN OLD MAN AND WOMAN SURVIVED AND POPULATED THE EARTH. STORYTELLING IS A MEANS OF ENTERTAINING AND SHARING INFORMATION.

THIS TRIBE LIVES ON A RESERVATION. WHICH IS UNDER THEIR CONTROL. THE LEADER OF THE TRIBE IS CALLED THE CHIEF OR SAKMAW IN THEIR LANGUAGE. IN THE PAST THE MIK'MAQ LANGUAGE WAS CHOSEN BY TRIBAL COUNCIL MEMBERS. OFTEN THEY PICKED THE LAST CHIEF'S SONS AND NEPHEWS. TODAY CHIEFS ARE ELECTED IN MOST MI'KMAQ NATIONS LIKE MAYORS.

TODAY THEY SPEAK ENGLISH. THE KIDS GO AND PLAY AND GO TO SCHOOL. THEY LEARN FROM THEIR PARENTS. THEY HAD MORE CHORES IN THE PAST. THEY PLAYED GAMES THEY LIKED A HOCKEY GAME. THE MOM'S MADE CRADLE BOARDS. THEY ORIGINALLY LIVED IN WIGWAMS OF WOOD AND BIRCH BARK. TODAY THEY LIVE IN MODERN HOUSES OR APARTMENTS.
THEY DID NOT HAVE LONG FEATHER HEADDRESSES. INSTEAD THEY WORE THEIR BEADED HEADBANDS WITH FEATHERS. SOME MEN PAINTED THEIR FACE THEIR FACES RED AS THEY WENT TO BATTLE. THEY WORE THEIR HAIR LONG AND LOOSE. FRENCH MISSIONARIES COULD NOT TELL MEN AND WOMEN APART BECAUSE THEIR HAIR WAS LONG AND LOOSE. FRENCH MISSIONARIES COULD NOT TELL NOT TELL MEN AND WOMEN APART BECAUSE THEIR HAIR WAS SO LONG! IN THE 1800'S SOME CHIEFS BEGAN WEARING AN IMPRESSIVE FEATHER HEADDRESSES. TODAY SOME PEOPLE STILL WEAR TRADITIONAL MIKMAQ CLOTHING AND THEY WEAR FEATHERS IN THEIR HAIR FOR A DANCE.

THEY WERE KNOWN FOR THEIR BIRCH BARK CANOES WITH AN UPWARD CURVE. IT IS STILL POPULAR TODAY. THEY USE DOGS AS PACK ANIMALS. THEY WERE SEMI-NOMADIC AND DID NOT FORM AND MOVED TO COLLECT FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILIES. THEY WERE GOOD AT FISHING AND HUNTING LARGE GAME LIKE CARIBOU AND MOOSE. MICMAQ MEN ALSO ALSO WERE ALSO WERE GOOD AT FISHING AND HUNTING CARIBOU AND MOOSE. MICMAQ MEN ALSO WERE GOOD AT FISHING AND HUNTING. THE MEN HARPOONED SEALS AND WALRUS, AND SOME WHALES. THEY ATE OTHER FOODS SUCH AS BERRIES, SQUASH, AND MAPLE SYRUP. THEY WERE SKILLED AT BEADWORK AND BASKET WEAVING. THEY CARVED BEADS CALLED WAMPUM OF PURPLE AND WHITE SHELL BEADS.

THEY MADE WAMPUM BELTS. THEY WERE GREAT TRADERS, CARRYING GOODS BETWEEN NORTHERN TRIBES LIKE THE INNU, CREE, AND NEW ENGLAND. THEY WERE FIERCE WARRIORS WHO FOUGHT THE IROQUOIS. THEY HAVE MANY LEGENDS AND FAIRY TALES. STORY TELLING IS VERY IMPORTANT. SOME OF THEIR PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN MANY CONFLICTS OF LAND RIGHTS. THE MI'KMAQ AND OTHER TRIBES TODAY SIGNED TREATIES GIVING UP OWNERSHIP OF THEIR LANDS. HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT AGREED THE MI'KMACS WOULD HAVE FISHING AND HUNTING AND LOGGING RIGHTS. THESE RIGHTS MADE THE ANGLOS ANGRY. THE MI'KMAQS HAD TO PAY FOR THOSE RIGHTS. SOME ANGLOS DESTROYED A NATIVE FISHING AREA AND BURNED A SACRED SITE. THERE IS STILL TENSION THERE.

THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR AT LEAST 10,600 YEARS ACCORDING TO ARCHAEOLOGISTS, BUT THEY HAVE NOT FOUND PHYSICAL TRACES. BEFORE 13,000 YEARS AGO NO ONE WAS LIVING HERE AS THE ENTIRE AREA WAS COVERED WITH ICE. THE EARLIEST KNOWN INHABITANTS WERE MAKING WEAPONS, KILLED GAME AND CLEANED HIDES BY AT LEAST 10,000 YEARS AGO AT A CAMP DISCOVERED IN DELBERT, NOVA SCOTIA. EVEN THEN SMALL ICE CAPS COVERED THE MOUNTAINS. LATER THE CLIMATE BECAME WARMER AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF FORESTS AND ANIMALS APPEARED. THE EUROPEANS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR LESS THAN 500 YEARS.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

INNU NATION IN NOVA SCOTIA

THIS WEBSITE IS ABOUT PLACE INNU PLACE NAMES IN LABRADOR. PEOPLE OF EVERY CULTURE GIVE NAMES TO PLACES, RIVERS, LANDS, ETC.

FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLE GIVE INFORMATION FOR HUNTING AND FISHING, OR THEY DESCRIBE THE LAND IN SOME WAY THAT HELPS PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE TRAVELING. AN EXAMPLE FROM LABRADOR INNU IS KUKAMSSAT KATAHT MEANING "WHERE THERE ARE TROUT".

THEY GIVE PEOPLE DIRECTION ABOUT WHERE TO GO BY USING PLACE NAMES. IMAGINE TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE WHERE TO GO WITHOUT HAVING NAMES OF RIVERS. THESE NAMES ARE USED WHEN TELLING STORIES ABOUT PEOPLES EXPERIENCES ON THE LAND. THE NAMES OF PLACES MAY RECORD SIGNIFICANT EVENTS SUCH AS BIRTHS , DEATHS, AND BURIAL LOCATIONS, CAMPSITES, OR CANOE MAKING, SALMON SPEARING, TRAPPING, PORCUPINE SINGING, CARIBOU HUNTING, AND OTHER FORMS OF LAND USE TOOK PLACE. ASHTUNKNIK, IS THE INNU NAME FOR SMEGANOOK LAKE.

ANOTHER IMMU EXAMPLE IS KAUIPUSHKAKAMAT, WHICH MEANS "BURNT AREA LAKE". THESE NAMES GIVE ARCHAEOLOGISTS CLUES TO IMMU LIFE DURING FUR TRADE PERIOD AS WELL AS BEFORE CONTACT WITH THE ANGLOS. THEY HELP THEM FIND ANCIENT SITES.

SOME PLACE NAMES REFER TO RELIGIOUS EVENTS. AN INNU PLACE WITH GREAT RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE WAS ON AN ISLAND NAMED AFTER AN OLD SHAMAN WITH A LONG NAME. PLACE NAMES ARE IMPORTANT FOR A PEOPLE'S SENSE OF PLACE.

IN 2004, PETER ARMITAGE, AND SEVERAL PEOPLE ANOTHER PROJECT FOR MAPPING THEIR AREA. AND THEN THEY PUT IT TOGETHER DIGITALLY USING MAP INFORMATION WITH GIS.

NOVASCOTIA.ORG

Friday, November 25, 2011

SPELUNKING BLOG

WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER I WENT INTO SEVERAL CAVES, AND DID VISIT OTHERS AS AN ADULT. A CAVE I EXPLORED WITH COWORKERS IN OHIO WHEN I WORKED AT THE DAYTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY WAS A WET CAVE. WE CAME PREPARED WITH LAYERED CLOTHING, HARDHAT, GLOVES AND HEADLAMPS IN THE SUMMER. I REMEMBER SCALING DOWN A KNOTTED ROPE ABOUT 40 FEET. ONE MAN KNEW THE LAYOUT OF THE CAVE WE WERE EXPLORING. WE WORE OLD CLOTHES, HEADLAMPS AND HEAVY GLOVES. THE CAVES IN OHIO HAD UNDERGROUND RIVERS. THE STALAGTITES AND STALAGMITES WERE BEAUTIFUL. WE HAD TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WAS SAFER. AT THE SAME PLACES THERE WERE DEEP CREVICES WHERE OUR TRAIL WAS AND I LOST A GLOVE ON ONE TRIP. I THINK WE BROUGHT OUR LUNCHES AND WATER AND EXTRA BATTERIES.

WHEN I WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS OLDER I WORKED AS AN ARCHAEOLOGIST IN NEW MEXICO AND AFTER EXCAVATING A PUEBLO WE WENT ONE WEEKEND INTO A DRY CAVE THAT HAD A LARGE ENTRANCE AND A GENTLE DOWNWARD SLOPE. THE CAVE WAS A LITTLE BIT LIKE A TUNNEL WITH FEWER STALAGTITES THAN IN OHIO CAVES, AND THERE WERE NO STREAMS. IT WAS QUITE AN ADVENTURESAS THE TRAIL WOUND AROUND MANY BENDS AND TIGHT SMALL OPENINGS. WE FOUND SOME GUANO FROM BATS. IT WAS VERY DRY AND I THINK SOME OTHER ANIMAL BONES WERE THERE. I BELIEVE WE SPENT ABOUT 5 HOURS IN THE CAVE WITH HELMETS AND GLOVES.

ANOTHER CAVE I EXPLORED WAS IN SOUTH DAKOTA CALLED WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK. MY HUSBANDE AND I BOTH WENT TO THIS CAVE WHERE THE NATURALIST DRESSES. IN HISTORIC GEAR AND HE DESCRIBES HOW THE CAVE WAS DISCOVED AND HE HAS ALL THE VISITORS CARRY CANDLES AS THEY DID IN HISTORIC TIMES. THE TRIP LASTS ONLY A FEW HOURS AND KIDS ARE AMAZED AT THE BEAUTY AT THE BEAUTY OF BEING UNDERGROUND AND SEEING STALAGTITES AND STALAGMITES. AT ONE POINT5 THE NATURALIST TELL ALL TO BLOW OUT THEIR CANDLES. IT IS SO QUIET AND PEACXEFUL AND BLACK! WE TOOK OUR SON HERE ON ONE TRIP AS WELL.

ANOTHER PARK WE EXPLORED AS A FAMILY WAS OREGON STATE CAVES ? IN SOUTHERN OREGON. THERE WE STAYED AT THE INN ACROSS FROM THE CAVE'S ENTRANCE. WE HAVE VISITED THERE A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE CAVE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED WITH LIGHTS AND WOODEN OR STEEL STAIRS AND HAND HOLDS. IT IS AN INTERESTING CAVE WITH SOME TRICKING CREEK AND SOME INTERESTING FISH, A SKELETON OF A MAMMOTH AND SOME FUN STALAGMITES AND STALAGTITES. THE NAATURALISTS SAYS SOME OF THESE LOOK LIKE DIFFERENT ANIMALS. THEY DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO TOUCH THESE AS THEY ARE FRAGILE AND ANCIENT.THIS TRIP LASTS ABOUT 3 HOURS AND WE ALL HAVE NO HEADLAMPS AS THE CAVE IS WELL LIGHTED THE ENTIRE WAY, BUT IT IS A COOL 50 DEGREES. IT IS FUN BECAUSE THE WAY THE FORMATIONS LOOK ARE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CAVES IN THE AREA. EACH NATURALIST HAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT STORY ABOUT THE FORMATIONS AND WHO HELPED TO MAP THE CAVE.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

KASHINAWA INDIANS IN PERU

KASHINAWA PROBABLY HAVE LIVED IN THE GENERAL AREA WHERE THEY ARE SINCE NO LATER THAN A.D. 1200. BUT OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR PRESENCE IN THE REGION DATES FROM REPORTS BY WILLIAM CHANDLESS IN 1860'S. BEGINNING AT THAT TIME, BRAZILIANS FROM THE STATE BEGIN TO MAKE EXPEDITIONS DURING THE DRY SEASON TO EXPLOIT RUBBER, SARSAPARILLO, CACAO, AND COPAIBA OIL. LATER THE COLONISTS FROM NORTH EASTERN BRAZIL. THESE EARLY CONTACTS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN PEACEFUL. THESE EARLY CONTAQCTS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN PEACEFUL. BY 1900 SOME RUBBER WORKERS STAGED PLANNED MASACRES AND ANGLOS. BROUGHT DISEASES BOTH OF WHICH DESTROYED , AND ANGLOS BROUGHT DESTROYED MANY KASHINAWA. BY 1910 SOME OF THESE INDIANS WORKED FOR RUBBER COMPANIES FOR BRAZILIAN BOSSES, AS THEY STILL DO. BY 1910 SOME OF THE INDIANS WORKED FOR RUBBER COMPANIES FOR RUBBER COMPANIES FOR BRAZILIAN BOSSES A THEY STILL DO. OTHERS MOVED TO RIO CARANJA IN RELATIVE ISOLATION UNTIL THE 1940'S WHEN THEY LIVED WITH BRAZILIAN SETLLERS. THEY BECAME CATHOLICS.

BY THE 1970'S THE STATE OPENED UP THE HWY WHICH BROUGHT MORE CATTLE AND A CONTINUAL LAND OF EXPECTATION. THIS BROUGHT STRUGGLES FOR LAND ISUES BETWEEN RANCERS, THE KACHINAWA, AND RUBBER TAPPERS. THEY HAD A MOVEMENT TO EASTABLISH INDIGENOUS AREAS AS THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT DIRECTED. IN 1955 THE US MISSIONARIES BEGAN WORK WITH THE KASHINAWA IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH BILINGUAL SCHOOLS AND CONVERT THEM TO CHRISTIANS. THE KACHINAWA CAN'T MAINTAIN MUCH OF THEIR INDIGENOUS CULTURE.

THE KASHINAWA BELIEVE ALL OF NATURE INCLUDING HUMANS HAVE AN INVISIBLE COMPONENT CALLED "YUSHIN". HUMANS HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE THE VISIBLE PART OF THE WORLD. SPIRITS USE INVISIBLE PARTS. SPIRITS CAN BE PLAYFUL, MEAN, OR SPITEFUL. SPIRITS CAN BE SEEN DURING DREAMS WHILE UNCONSCIOUS AND UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A HALLUCINOGEN, BREW MADE FROM A VINE. CATHOLICISM MISSIONARIES HAVE INTRODUCED NEW RELIGIOUS IDEAS BUT HAVE NOT ELIMINATED THESE TRADITIONAL BELIEFS. RELIGIOUS PRACTIONERS ACTED AS MEDIATORS BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE SPIRITUAL WORLD.

THEY HAVE THREE PRIMARY CEREMONIES AND INITIATION RITES.AFTER CHILDREN ARE INITIATED BETWEEN 9 AND 12, THEY BEGIN TO TAKE ON AND ADULT RESPONSIBILITIES. THE HEADMAN RITUAL IS HELD WHENEVER TENSIONS WITHIN THE VILLAGE ARE THREATENED. IT HELPS BRING UNITY TO THE MEN.

SOME MEN HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF HERBAL TREATMENT WHEN ASKED IF ILLNESS IS NOT RESPONSIVE TO HERBAL REMEDIES. SOME MEN HAVE HERBAL TREATMENT WHEN ASKED. IF ILLNESS IS NOT RESPONSIVE TO HERBAL TREATMENT, THEY MAY BE TREATED BY A SHAMAN. THEY BELIEVE DEATH ENDS. SOME OF THE PEOPLE'S SPIRITS JOIN THE SPIRITS OF THE ANCESTORS AND SOME RETURN TO THE VILLAGE.

EVERYCULTURE.COM

CASHIBO INDIANS IN PERU

THE CASHIBO LIVE IN EASTERN PERU ALONG THE AGUAYTIA RIVER IN EASTERN PERU ALONG THE AGUAYTIA RIVER. THEIR POPULATION IS OF THE PANOAN FAMILY. HISTORICALLY THEY HAVE BEEN HOSTILE TO THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THE MISSIONARIES WHO ATTEMPTED TO WORK AMONG THEM . WHEN THE FIRST IN THE CASHIBO KILLED ONE OF THEM AND FORCED THE REST TO LEAVE. BY 1829 THEY RETREATED TO THE HEADWATER OF PACHITA. IN 1870 WHEN THEY RETURNED DOWN RIVER THEY WERE VICTIMS OF RAIDS BY THE SHETELBO AND COJUBO. IT HAS ONLY BEEN IN THE ONLY PAST 20TH CENTURIES THAT THE CASHIBO ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE PERUVIAN NATIONAL SOCIETY. IN THE PAST WHEN SETTLERS APPROACHED THE CASHIBO THE INDIANS SIMPLY MOVED FURTHER INTO THE FOREST TO AVOID THEM. BETWEEN THE 30'S AND 40'S MANY EPIDEMICS OCCURRED. BECAUSE ACCULTURATION WAS RAPID MANY CASHIBO DIED AS A 0RESULT OF CULTURE SHOCK AND DISEASE. BY 1940 THEY REFUSED TO BE ON A RESERVATION AND STAYED ON THEIR LAND. THE MAJORITY LIVE IN FIVE COMMUNITIES EACH OF WHICH IS HALF BILINGUAL DIRECTED BY THE SUMMER INSTITUTE, A MISSIONARY GROUP.

BOTH CASHIBO AND SHIPIBO INTERMARRY. THE TRADITIONAL CASHIBO SUBSISTENCE WAS BASED ON HUNTING, FISHING, CROPS RAISED IN SWIDDEN AGRICULTURE . FOLKS ALONG THE RIVER SELL BANANAS, SALTED MEAT, FISH AND CHICKEN TO TRUCK DRIVERS. BUT THOSE ON THE NON NAVIGABLE PACHITAS, WHO HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION, HAVE LESS OPPORTUNITY TO SELL THEIR PRODUCE. SOME CASHIBO HAVE SOME CCASHIBO HAVE LEFT FARMING TO WORK FOR CASH AS LUMBERERS AND OTHER JOBS. THEY ARE FARM AND OTHER WORKERS.

IN THEIR GARDENS THE CASHIBO RAISED MAIZE AND SWEET MANIOC AS STAPLES, PUMPKINS, PEANUTS, GOUYRDS, PAPAYA, PEPPERS SWEET POTATOES. NON FOOD CROPS INCLUDE COTTON, GENIPAPO, ANNATO, REEDS, FOR ARROWS, TWO TYPES OF FISH POISON PLANTS AND TOBACCO. EVERY THREE YEARS MEN CLEAR NEW FIELDS. CASHIBO DEPEND UPON FISH THAT THEY CATCH WITH BOW AND ARROW AND HARPOONS. THEY ALSO SALT AND SELL FISH. THE MOST IMPORTANT ANIMALS ARE DEER, CAPYBARAS AND MONKEYS, SQUIRRELS, TAPIR AND WATERFOWL. THEY KEEP THE DOMES,PIGS, AND PARROTS AND MONKEYS.

THEY ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR BEAUTIFUL POTTERY, BASKETS, AND MATS. MEN DO WOODWORKING. TYPICALLY THEY HAVE ONE OR TWO FAMILIES IN EACH HOUSE. THEIR COMMUNITY WAS SELF SUFFICIENT AND INDEPENDANT. THEIR WAS LITTLE TRADE WITH THE OTHER GROUPS. THEIR COMMUNITY WAS LEAD BY A FAMILY OWNED THIER GARDEN.

THE EMMISSIONARIES CONVINCED THEM TO WEAR CLOTHES. THE CHASHIBO DEFORMED THE HEQADS OF THEIR INFANTS BY USING A PAD AROUND THEIR HEADS TIED TO THEIR CRADLEBOARDS. IT TOOK ONLY FOUR DAYS. THEY HAD MANY OTHER RITES AND SOME WEIRD PRACTICES.

EVERYCULTURE.COM

CAMPA INDIANS IN PERU

THE CAMPA INDIANS LIVE PRIMARILY IN THE EASTERN POPULATION OF THE PERUVIAN ANDES. JUST OVER 200 OF THEM LIVE IN BRAZIL. THEIR POPULATION RANGES FROM 14000 TO MORE THAN 40,000 FOLKS. THEY SPEAK LIKE ARAWAK. THEY HAVE SEVEN MAJOR CAMPAS GROUPS. THEY DID NOT GET ALONG WITH THE EUROPEANS. IN THE EARLY 17TH CENTURY THEY REBELLED AGAINST THE FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES.

BY 1735 THEY BUILT 38 MISSIONS WHERE 8000 INDIANS LIVED. IN 1742 THE CAMPA REBELLION AROSE. THIS HOSTILITY CONTINUED FOR OVER 100 YEARS. ANGLOS CAME IN THE RUBBER BOOM OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY AND THE CAMPA WERE FORCED TO WORK WITH THEM. THEY GOT MASSIVE EPIDEMICS AND MANY DIED. THE PERUVIAN CORPORATION DECIDED TO HAVE THEM WORK FOR THEIR LIVING.

A SUBGROUP OF THE CAMPO ARE CALLED ASHANNINCA WHO LIVE IN THE JUNGLE AT AN ELEVATION OF 300 TO 1800 METERS. THE ESTIMATED POPULATION WAS IN 1975 15 TO 18,000. THEY ARE TRADITIONALLY AGAINST THE FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES. BY 1735 THEY BUILT MISSIONS AGAINST THE FRANCISCANS MISSIONARIES.

BY 1735 THEY BUILT 38 MISSIONS WHERE 8000 LIVED. IN 1742 THE CAMPO REBELLION AROSE. THIS HOSTILITY CONTINUED FOR OVER 100 YEARS. ANGLOS CAME IN THE RUBBER BOOM OF THE
20TH CENTURY AND THE CAMPA WERE FORCED TO WORK WITH THEM. THEY GOT MASSIVE EPIDEMICS AND MANY DIED.

A SUBGROUP OF THE THE CAMPO ARE CALLED ASHANINEA WHO LIVE IN THE JUNGLES. SMALL GROUPS. MANY NOW USE SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURE. THEY HAVE INDIVIDUAL OWNERSHIP. IN CULTIVATING MAIZE, RICE,BEANS, COFFEE, AND CITRUS FRUITS, THEY WORK IN LUMBER ING AND HUNT ANIMAL SKINS. AN INTEGRAL OF THEIR ECONOMY IS THEIR SYSTEM OF TRADING PARTNERS. THEY HAVE 30 BILIGUAL SCHOOLS AND SOME MECHNICS.

EVERYCULTURE.COM

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

CANDOSHO INDIANS IN PERU

THE CANDOSHI SLOWLY MIGRATED TO NORTHERN CAJAMARCAS. LINGUISTICALLY AND ARCHAEOLOGICALLY THEY ARE AN ANOMALY IN THEIR PRESENT LOCATION. THEIR ORAL TRADITION INCLUDES NO ACCOUNT OF SUCH A MIGRATION. THEY HAD EARLY CONTACT WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.. THE CANDOSHI SAY THE ASHUER TAUGHT THEM HOW TO OBTAIN SPIRITUAL POWERS AND TO SHRINK HEADS. THEY HAD INTERFAMILY BLOOD FEUDS IN WAREFARE.

IN THE EARLY 1900'S PEOPLE STILL USED STONE AXES TO CLEAR GARDENS AND MAKE FOOD PRODUCTION. ONCE STEEL AXES AND MACHETES WERE INTRODUCED LARGE GARDENS WERE QUICKLY CLEARED AND MEN HAD TIME FOR WAREFARE?

BY THE 1930'S THE AMAZON RUBBER COMPANIES MADE THE CANDOSHI FIGHT AMONG EACH OTHER AND THEIR NEIGHBORS. IN THE EARLY 1930'S MANY OF THE CHAPARA YOUTH OF THE RIO STICHIN WERE ABDUCTED AND THEY REVOLTED AGAINST THE RUBBER COMPANIES. THIS PROVOKED A TWO YEAR WAR BETWEEN THE CHAPARA AND THE ARMY.

DURING THE 1940S A MEASLES EPIDEMIC REDUCED THEIR POPULATION TO 100 FOLKS. THE SURVIVORS SETTLED ON RIO PUSHAGA. AS TIME WENT BY MORE PEOPLE SOUGHT PEACE AND THEY DECIDED TO OBEY CHRISTIAN TEACHINGS, THE WAR RAIDS STOPPED. BILINGUAL SCHOOLS OPENED IN THE LATE 1500'S AND THEY BEGAN TO HAVE LITERACY AMONG PEOPLE.THEY BROUGHT IN TEACHERS FROM ENEMY GROUPS.

TODAY THEY LIVE IN EXTENDED FAMILY SETTLEMENTS OF ABOUT 150 PEOPLE. IDEALLY THE HOUSES SHOULD BE AT LEAST A 5 MINUTE WALK APART. EACH COMMUNITY WAS ABOUT ALONG STRUCTURE WITH A PALM LEAFED ROOF WITHOUT WALLS. THE AVERAGE HOME IS ABOUT 30 SQUARE METERS. THEIR MODERN HOMES HAVE A BARK WALL AROUND THE SLEEPING AREA.

EVERYCULTURE.COM

BORA INDIANS IN PERU

BORA INDIANS LIVE IN A DEEP PERUVIAN JUNGLE ALONG THE AMAZON AND AMPIRICU RIVERS. HISTORICALLY THEY HAD ENEMIES AS WELL AS ALLIES. THEY ARE ARTISTICALLY TALENTED TRIBES, MAKING MASKS, DOLLS, RATTLES AND BLOWGUNS. MANY CRAFTS ARE FROM BARK CLOTH. THEY MAKE BARK CLOTH FROM INNER BARK OF FIG TREE AND IS BEATEN IT IS PAPER THIN. THEY THEN MAKE SHORT SKIRTS AND FOR BOTH. A PALM TREE IS USED TO MAKE TWINE FOR BAGS AND HAMMOCKS. THE HUITOTO,THEIR ENEMY, WORE NO BLOUSES. THE BORA WOMEN WERE A DRESS. BOTH SEXES WEAR NO NECKLACES,FEATHERS, BUT THEY DO PAINT THEIR BODIES WITH RED AND WHITE PAINT.

ONE OF THE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN IQUITOS IS THE BORA INDIANS WHO LIVE IN SAN ANDRE VILLAGE. THEY HAVE ABOUT 3000 NATIVE SPEAKERS ALL LIVING IN PERU AND COLUMBIA. THE BORA LANGUAGE IS SIMILAR TO THE HUITOTO. THE BORA HAVE DIFFERENT CLANS REPRESENTED BY AN ANIMAL. THEY PAINT THEIR FACES WITH DIFFERENT DESIGNS BASED ON THEIR CLAN. THEY MUST MARRY OUTSIDE OF THEIR CLAN.

THE BORAS DO NOT DANCE AS THEY DO FOR TOURISTS IN IQUITOS. INSTEAD THEY USE LARGE SIX FIX FOOT BATONS THAT THEY FOUND IN UNISON ON THE GROUND AS THEY DANCE. THE BATONS HAVE SHELLS ATTACHED TO THEM FOR MUSIC HARMONY. THEY OFTEN DANCE ALL NIGHT IN THEIR CEREMONIES. ONE AUTHENTIC ITEM YOU CAN VIEW IN THEIR VILLAGE IS THE BORA MANGUARE DRUM. THEY HAVE DIFFERENT FORMS OF DRUMS AND THEY CONSIDER THEM MALE OR FEMALE.

THEY ALSO PEEL THE BARK OF A PALM TREE AND POUND IT WITH A WOODEN HAMMER. AFTER THEY POUND IT ONLY THE INNER BARK IS LEFT. THIS FABRIC IS LIKE BURLAP AND THEY USE NATURAL DYES. THEY USE GINGER FROM PRESSED GREEN FRUIT HUITO TREE.

THEY ALSO WEAVE WITH BAGS FROM A PALM FIBER CALLED CHAMBRI. A KEY INGREDIENT IN MAINTAINING A NATIVE CULTURE IS USING THEIR TRADITIONAL LANGUAGE. IF YOU TALK TO THE CHILDREN YOU WILL SEE THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR LANGUAGE.

ANOTHER TEST OF THEIR CULTURAL INTEGRITY IS THAT THEY STILL USE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MEDICINAL USE OF BORAS. COCA LEAVES ARE USED IN THE ANDES MOUNTAINS TO PROVIDE THEM SOME NUTRIENTS IN THEIR DIET. IT ALLOWS THEM TO WORK EXTENDED HOURS WITHOUT EXHAUSTION. THEY DO NOT HAVE CHEW THE RAW LEAVES AS THEY DO IN THE MOUNTAINS -THE BORA DRY THE LEAVES OVER A FIRE AND POUND THEM IN A POWDER. THIS POWDER IS BLOWN IN THEIR NOSE!

THE BORA INDIANS ARE PRESERVING THEIR CULTURE BY A SUSTAINABLE AGROFORESTRY PROJECT IN BRILLO NUEVO. SCIENTISTS HAVE LEARNED THAT FROM OBSERVATIONS ON TRADITIONAL BORA FORESTRY. THEY ARE MAKING NEW MODELS OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE THAT WILL SUSTAIN THE TROPICAL RAIN FOREST RATHER THAN DESTROY IT. THE BORAS WERE A SEMINOMADIC TRIBE AND THEIR ANCESTRAL HOMELAND WAS ON COLOMBIA. THEY LIVED IN A COMMUNAL HOUSE. THEY WERE NOMADS PRACTICING SHIFTING CULTIVATIONS AND THEY SUBSIDIZED THEIR DIET BY HUNTING AND THEY PRACTICED SHIFTING CULTIVATIONS AND FISHED.

BY 1900 THE AMAZON RUBBER BOOM CHANGED THE WAYS OF THE BORAS FOREVER. THIS PERIOD WAS DISASTROUS FOR THE BORA COMMUNITIES. THEY WERE FORCED TO HARVEST LATEX FROM STANDS OF RUBBER TREES. THE BEFORE THE BOOM THE BORA INDIGENOUS POPULATION WAS ESTIMATED AT 15,000. YEARS LATER PERU'S LOSS OF THE BORDER WAR WITH COLUMBIA IN 1930'S MADE THE M EVACUATE TO IQUITOS.

INDIANCULTURES.COM

AYMARA INDIAN IN PERU

AYMARA INDIANS SPEAK ONE OF THE MAJOR LANGUAGES OF SOUTH AMERICA SPOKEN BY 3 MILLION PEOPLE. IN THE ANDEAN REGION OF BOLIVIA, PERU. THEY HAVE TWO TO EIGHT DIFFERENT AYMARAN LANGUAGES. SOME THINK IT IS RELATED TO AYMARA AND RELATED TO QUECHUA.THESE FOLKS LIVE IN BOLIVIA AND PERUVIAN PLAIN NEAR LAKE TITICACA. TWO SMALL VILLAGES OF INDIANS LIVE IN THE AREA.

SPANISH CONQUEST AFFECTED THE AYMARA TREMENDOUSLY. EPIDEMICS, WARFARE, AND COLONIAL EXPLOITATION LED TO A DECLINE IN THE POPULATION. COLONIAL EXPLOITATION LED TO A DECLINE IN THE POPULATION AS WELL. TODAY THEY HAVE ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE BETWEEN 600,00 TO 900,000 AYMARA.

PRIOR TO THEIR CONQUEST BY THE INCA IN 1430 THEY WERE ORGANIZED INTO SUBGROUPS. THEY WERE INCLUDED WITH THE INCA THAT RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT AND LACK OF INDEPENDENCE. BY 1535 THE SPANISH CONQUEST FURTHER FURTHER CHANGED THEM FROM 1820 TO THE . THE AMARA HAVE BEEN UNDER THE RULE OF PERUVIAN AND BOLIVIAN REPUBLICS. IN THE LAST 25 YEARS25 YEARS.

THE MAJORITY OF OF AYMARA ARE DEPENDANT ON AGRICULTURE FOR THEIR SUBSISTENCE. THEY GROW MANY CROPS THEY RAISE SHEEP LLAMAS. CATTLE, ALPACAS, AND FISH, THEIR ECONOMIC STRUCTURE TOOK PLACE IN THE PAST FEW DECADES. PRIOR TO LAND REFORM PROGRAMS, THE MAJORITY OF ALTIPLANO LANDS. MANY AYMARA WERE DEPENDANTS OF THESE ESTATES, EXCHANGING LABOR FOR RIGHTS TO USE THE ARABLE LAND. THE HACIENDA SYSTEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND THEIR PRODUCE WAS SIPHONED OFF BY MIDDLEMEN. TODAY THE HACIENDA SYSTEM WELL DOCUMENTED AND THE SYSTEM WAS THEIR PRODUCE WAS SIPHONED OFF BY MIDDLEMEN. TODAY THE HACIENDA SYSTEM IS BREAKING UP AND LAND TENURE HAS CHANGED.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

ARABELA INDIANS IN PERU

ARABELA INDIANS IN PERU ARE INDIGENOUS TO TWO PERUVIAN VILLAGES ALONG THE ARABELA RIVER. THEIR LANGUAGE CHIPUNO IS SPOKEN BY ABOUT 50 PEOPLE OF 500 . MOST FOLKS SPEAK ARABELA, A LANGUAGE OF THE ZAPARON FAMILY OF LANGUAGES. THEY HAVE BEEN GREATLY REDUCED BY WARS AND ENSLAVEMENT FROM THE RUBBER BOOM.

WIKIPEDIA.COM

Thursday, November 17, 2011

ARABELA INDIANS IN PERU

ARABELA ARE INDIGENOUS TO TWO PERUVIAN VILLAGES IN A FOREST ECONOMY ALONG THE ARABELA RIVER. THEIR LANGUAGE CHIRIPUNO IS SPOKEN BY ABOUT 50 PEOPLE OF THEIR 500. MOST OF THE FOLKS SPEAK ARABELLA WHICH IS ANOTHER LANGUAGE OF THE ZAPAROAN FAMILY. MOST OF THE FAMILIES SPEAK ARABELA. THEY HAVE BEEN GREATLY REDUCED BY DISEASES, WARS AND ENSLAVEMENT FROM THE RUBBER BOOM

WIKIPEDIA.COM

ASHANINKA INDIANS IN PERU

THESE FOLKS ARE AN ETHNIC GROUP OF THE PERUVIAN AMAZON RAIN FOREST. THEY ARE ALL KNOWN AS CAMPA ASHANINKA MEANS OUR FELLOWS. ANGLOS ATTEMPTED TO COLONIZE THE AREA IN 1600. BY 1742 THE AMERINDIAN REBELLION LED BY THE LEGENDARY JUAN SANTOS ATAHUALPA FORCED BY MISSIONARIES AND COLONISTS FROM THE AREA. THE ASHANINKA HAD CONTROL OVER THEIR LAND FOR OVER A CENTURY. BY THE MID 19TH CENTURY AGRICULTURAL FROM THE ANDES AND THE TAPPING INDUSTRY FROM THE AMAZON BROUGHT EUROPEANS BACK IN. BY THE MID 19TH CENTURY AGRICULTURE FROM THE ANDES AND THE RUBBER TAPPING INDUSTRY FROM THE AMAZON BROUGHT EUROPEANS BACK. IN 1847 RECOLONIZATION BY FRANCISCANS AND EUROPEANS, CHINESE AND JAPANESE SETTLERS BEGAN. SOME 5 MILLION ACRES OF ASHANINKA TERRITORY ALONG WITH THE MAIN RIVERS WERE GRANTED TO THE BRITISH OWNED PERUVIAN CORPORATION 44 YEARS LATER. THE ASHANINKA WERE USED AS LABORERS. THEY HAD WORKING CONDITIONS WITH VIRUS EPIDEMICS THAT REDUCED THEIR POPULATION.

DURING THE LAST DECADES OF THE 1900'S THIS TERRITORY HAS BEEN THE SITE OF THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN PERU'S ARMY AND REBEL GROUPS. SINCE 1980'S THE SHINING PATH - A COMMUNIST REBEL GROUP HAS ENTERED THEIR TERRITORY. SINCE THEN REBEL AND ARMY ACTIONS REDUCED THE ASHAMINKA.

THIS ETHNIC GROUP IS ONE OF THE LARGEST ETHIC GROUPS OF THE AMERICAS. THEY LIVE IN THE CENTRAL FOREST OF THE AMAZON OF EASTERN ANDEAN FOOTHILLS. THEIR COMMUNITIES STRETCHED ACROSS PERU TO BRAZIL. THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF CLEARING AND BURNING. THEY WERE ISOLATED OUTSIDE INFLUENCES BECAUSE OF DIFFICULT ACCESS. THEIR LANGUAGES ARE PRE-ANDEAN ARAWAK AND IS THE LARGEST LANGUAGE FAMILY IN SOUTH AMERICA. THEIR CHILDREN ARE GIVEN THEIR OFFICIAL NAME WHEN THEY ARE SEVEN YEARS OLD.

HISTORY AND MYTH ARE EXPLAINED THROUGH MYTHS AND HEROS. A GREAT CLIFF IN THE TAMBO RIVER LOOKED LIKE A SPANISH SHIP SYMBOL IN A POWERFUL HERO. THE SAILORS BECAME ANTS.

THEIR RELIGION IS A VISION OF THE COSMOS AND IS MAINLY MYTHICAL. THEY HAVE NO FIGURE OR A CREATOR. THEY HAVE A HERO, AVIRERI, WHO TRANSFORMS HUMANS INTO ANIMALS, PLANTS, MOUNTAINS, AND RIVERS. THEIR UNIVERSE IS INHABIOTED BY THE LIVING FORMS THAT CAN BE SEEN BY INVISIBLE BEINGS. THE SUN AND MOON ARE GOOD SPIRITS. EVIL SPIRITS ARE CALLED RAMARI. SHAMANS ARE INTERMEDIARIES BETWEEN HEROS AND PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE A VISION THAT THE WORLD IS PLAGUED BY EVIL FORCES AND PEOPLE WILL BE DESTROYED. AFTER THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WILL BE A NEW WORLD WITH NEW PEOPLE FREE OF SICKNESS OR DEATH.

EACH COMMUNITY HAD 300 -400 PEOPLE . NUCLEAR FAMILIES LIVED IN PRIVATE DWELLINGS. THEY GROW MANY CROPS FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. HEY HAVE CHICKENS AND EGGS,HUNT TAPIR, BOARS, AND MONKEYS, AND FISH. THERE IS MUCH TRADE BETWEEN FAMILIES.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

MASHCO CULTURE IN PERU

THE MASHCO ARE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN IN PERU. THEY LIVE IN THE TROPICAL ZONE OF PERUVIAN DEPARTMENTS. MADRE DE DIAS. THEY LIVE IN AN INLAND AREAWHICH DESCENDS FROM THE ANDEAN MOUNTAINS TO THE AMAZON BASIN THEY LIVE IN THE HIGH JUNGLE - MONTANA. THE ELEVATION RANGES FROM 200 METERS TO 700 METERS. THERE ARE ABOUT 6000 MASHCO LIVING IN 25,000 SQ. KM. THEIR LANGUAGE WAS CLASSIFIED AS PRE-ANDEAN ARAWAK. THEY HAVE VARIOUS HISTORIC PERIODS, PRE-HISPANIC, VICERAGAL, RUBBER TAPPER INCURSIONS AT THE END OF 1800'S, ESTABLISHMENT OF MISSIONS, COLONIALIZATIONS OF THE TERRITORY AND PRESENT DAY SITUATION.

A HISPANIC INDIAN CHRONICLER NARRATES HOW THE INCA AND HIS SON CONQUERED THE MASHCO. THERE WERE MANY WARRIORS AND BATTLES. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT MOTIVATED THE SPANIARDS TO PENETRATETHE AMAZONIAN AREA WAS THE LEGEND OF EL DORADO. THEY CAME HERE IN LATE 1500'S.

IN 1902 TWO IMPORTANT EVENTS TOOK PLACE THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE PACIFICATION OF THIS GROUP. ONE WAS PUTTING UP A MISSION ARMY POST BY THE DOMINICAN ORDER. THIS GAVE CONTACT TO THE WACHIPAERI AND LED TO THE EVANGELIZATION OF THE KOSMIPATA VALLEY. THE OTHER WAS FOUNDING OF THE CITY OF PUERTO MALDONADO ON THE LOWER COURSE OF THE MADRE DE DIOS.

THE MISSIONARIES BEGAN BEGAN AN INTENSIVE STUDY OF THE MACHCO LANGUAGE AND WROTE ETHNIGRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS DESCRIPTIONS THAT TRANSFORMED THE WORLD OF THEIR LIFEWAYS. THEY PUBLISHED THIS WORK. THE TWO MASHCO GROUPS HAVE CONTINUAL CONFRONTATIONS.WITH EACH OTHER. RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORING GROUPS WERE FAR FROM PEACEFUL.

EVERYCULTURE.COM

SHAUR INDIANS IN PERU

THE SHUAR BECAME KNOWN TO US IN THE 1800'S FOR THEIR CUSTOMS OF HUNTING AND SHRINKING HEADS THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL. THIS IS AN UNUSUAL TRADITION. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE MANY HEADHUNTING CULTURES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, THE JIVARO CLAIM IS THE ONLY GROUP KNOWN FOR SHRINKING HUMAN HEADS. THEY LIVE DEEP IN ECUADOR AND NEAR THE AMAZON. THEY ARE A VERY PRIMITIVE SOCIETY. THAT HAS VERY UNUSUAL COSTUMES. THEIR FOUR SUBTRIBES INCLUDE: ASHUAR, AGUARISNA, HUABISNA, AND SHUAR. THE SHUAR ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR PRACTICE OF HEAD SHRINKING.

THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO REVOLTED AGAINST THE SPANISH EMPIRE AND ONE TO REVOLT AGAINST SPANISH EMPIRE AND HAVE THWARTED ALL ATTEMPTS TO BE CONQUERED. THEY HAVE WITHSTOOD ARMIES OF GOLD SEEKING INCAS AND DEFIED THE EARLY CONQUISTADORS. THEY ARE AN INTENSELY WARLIKE GROUP AND VERY AND VERY PROTECTIVE OF THEIR FREEDOM TO SUBORDINATE THEMSELVES TO AUTHORITIES.

EARLY STORIES FROM THE 1599 SAY THEY BANDED TOGETHER AND KILLED 25,000 ANGLOS WHO TRIED TO CONQUER THEM! THE ROGRONE ATTACK STANDS OUT AS RUTHLESS. THE ATTACK WAS INSTIGATED OVER THE NATIVES BEING TAXED IN THEIR GOLD TRADE. AFTER UNCOVERING THE SCRUPULOUS MOLTEN GOLD WAS POURED DOWN THE GOVERNOR'S THROUT UNTIL HE DIED! THE REMAINING SPANIARD'S WERE KILLED ALONG WITH WITH OLDER WOMEN AND CHILDREN. THE YOUNGER WOMEN WERE TAKEN AS PRISONERS TO JOIN THE CLAN. THE VILLAGE WAS BURNED TO THE GROUND.BURNED TO THE GROUND.. FROM THIS POINT ONWARD THE JIVARO INDIANS REMAIN UNCONQUERED DESPITE THE FACT THEY LIVED IN ONE OF THE RICHEST GOLD BEARING TERRITORY OF SOUTH AMERICA. THEIR PRACTICES HAVE DISCOURAGED OUTSIDERS FROM ENTERING.

BY LATE 1800'S THEY WERE KNOWN FOR SHRINKING HEADS OF THEIR ENEMIES AND IT INTRIGUED TRAVELERS AND COMPELLED SOME FOLKS TO VISIT THEM. SOME VISITS BY ANGLOS HELPED THEM RECEIVE FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION FOR HEAD SHRINKING.

SOON THE PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT HAD TO PASS LAWS PROHIBITING THE TRAFFICE OF SHRUNKEN HEADS. THEY WERE IN A DESTRCTIVE CYCLE. WITH THEIR ENEMIES.IN THE 30'S THE HEADS HAD SOLD FOR $25.00.

ONE ETHNOLOGIST, BILL JAMIESON, VISITED THE SHUAR TRIBEE FROM 1995 -2001 AND RESEARCHED THEIR NATUROPATHIC HEALINGS AND RELATED RITUALS. HE LEAD FIVE EXPEDITIONS THERE. HE HAS AN EXTENSIVE LIBRARY OF SHUAR PHOTOS AND A COLLECTION OF THEIR SHRUNKEN HEADS.

HEAD-HUNTER.COM

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

AGUARUNA NATIVES IN PERU

AGUARUNA IS A JIVAROAN LANGUAGE OF SOUTH AMERICA. THIS LANGUAGE IS SPOKEN BY 30,000 PEOPLE IN NORTHERN PERU. THESE FOLKS LIVE IN VARIOUS TOWNS ALONG THE RIVERS OF MARANON AND SANTIAGO. THEY LIVE AT ELEVATIONS OF 200 TO 100 METERS IN PERU. ONCE THE SPANISH CAME HERE AGUARUNA HAD BEEN FIGHTING THE INCA FOR SOME TIME. THEY WERE FIRST CONTACTED BY SPANISH IN 1549. ALTHOUGH CONTACTED WITH ANGLOS REDUCED THEIR POPULATION, THEY DEFEATED THE SPANISH IN 1600. THEY DID NOT ACCEPT CATHOLOCISM. IN
THE 1970'S MANY AGUARUNA GROUPS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF CHANGE IN PERUVIAN LAWS AND RECEIVED OWNERSHIP OF THEIR LANDS. THEY NOW HAVE COMMUNITIES IN SPANISH AND QUECHUA. THEY PRIMARILY DO SWIDDEN AGRICULTURE, THEY HUNT, AND THEY FISH.THEY RAISE SWEET MANIOC, PLAINTAIN, MAIZE. RICE, BEANS, SQUASH, POTATOES, COTTON AND TOBACCO AND OTHER CROPS. THEY RAISE LIVESTOCK AND SELL ANIMAL SKINS.

THEIR VILLAGES ARE SEMI-PERMANNET AND HAVE UP TO 150 PEOPLE. VILLAGES HAVE BECOME MORE CENTRALIZED. THEYHAVE SCHOOL NEARBY. THEY HAVE DEFENDED THEIR LANDS BY DRESSING UP IN FIERCE-LOOKING COSTUMES. THEYA AVOID WITCHCRAFT. THEIR OVAL HOUSE HAS BEEN LARGELY REPLACED BY SMALLER RECTANGULAR HOUSES. THE HANDYMAN OR VILLAGE CHIEF IS POWERFUL DEPENDING UPON THE NUMBER OF HIS KIN. THEY HAVE A DESIRE TO REMAIN WITH THEIR KIN AND MARRY WITHIN CERTAIN OCIAL UNITS.

MAGIC IS IMPORTANT TO THEM AND THEY USE SPECIAL SONGS TO AID IN HUNTING, GARDENING, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. THEIR SONGS CAN BE VERY SPECIALIZED. SHAMANS ARE OF TWO TYPES- IWISHIN OR TAJIMAT TUNCHI(CURING SHAMANS) AND WAWEK TUNCHI(SORCERERS). SORCERERS MAY INFLICT ILLNESS BY USING SPIRIT DARTS, AND CURING SHAMANS CURE BY USING DARTS TO ELIMINATE SORCERERS DARTS.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

ACHUAR INDIANS IN PERU

ACHUAR CULTURE IS QUITE INTERESTING. THESE FOLKS LIVE IN PASTAZA HUASAGA AND OTHER RIVERS. THEY HAVE ABOUT 77 ANCESTRAL COMMUNITIES 12,500 PEOPLE. THEY HAVE THREE MAIN ORGANIZATIONS.ORGANIZATIONS AND 2 NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS,

THESE PEOPLE LIVE IN AND WERE BORN IN THE RAIN FOREST. THEY WERE ISOLATED FOR CENTURIES UNTIL 1970'S. THEIR TRADITIONS ARE STILL IMPORTANT AND THEIR LAND IS UNTOUCHED BY LOGGING OR OIL COMPANIES.. THEY HAVE MACAWS AND THEY HAVE FOUGHT FOR FOR CONSERVATION.

THEY LIVE IN HARMONY WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENT WHERE ALL ANIMALS AND PLANTS HAVE HUMAN-LIKE ATTRIBUTESWITH A SOUL AND AN INDEPENDANT LIFE. ACCORDING TO THEM EVERY PLANT AND ANIMALCAN BE UNDERSTOOD BY ITS OWN LANGUAGE AND THE ACHUAR UNDERSTAND THEM.

THEY KNOW EVERY TYPE OF TREE AND EVERY ANIMAL SPECIES. THEY KNOW WHERE TO FISH, HOW TO HUNT, AND WHEN TO SEED THEIR CROPS. THE FOREST IS THEIR MOTHER.

THE ACHUAR BELIEVE WHEN SOMEONE DIES SOME PARTS OF THEIR BODY WILL REINCARNATE INTO ANIMALS. THE IWIANCA ANIMALS ARE FORMS OF A PERSON'S SOUL. THESE ARE NEVER HUNTED OR EATEN BYTHEM. TO DO SO WOULD BE CANNABALISM. THEY KNOW EVERY 500 SPECIES OF BIRDS IN THEIR FOREST. EACH PERSON KNOWS EACH TREE AND CAN EXPLAIN THEIR MEDICINAL AND PRACTICAL USES. THEY HAVE EXPERT GUIDES OR BIOLOGISTS TO GIVE YOU VALUABLE INFORMATION.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG