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.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG