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 THEIR OVAL HOUSE HAS BEEN REPLACED BY SMALLER RECTANGULAR HOUSES.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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