PEMON TRIBE IN BRAZIL

THE PEMON MEANS PEOPLE. AREKUNA IS USED BY THE PEMON. THE FOLKS LIVING IN THE VALLEY OF KAMARATA ARE CALLED KAMARAKOTO. IN THE LATE 1970'S PEMON WERE IN VENEZULA AND THEY NUMBERED ABOUT 8000. THEIR GROWTH RATES HAVE INCREASED.

ALL OF THEIR NEIGHBORS MAKE FRIENDS WITH EACH OTHER. BY THE MID 1800'S THEY HAD SPANISH MISSIONARIES IN THE CARONI REGION AND RAIDED AMONG SETTLEMENTS. DURING THE LATER HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY THEY HAD NO EXTENSIVE WARFARE.

THEY HAVE MOUNTAINS ON ALL SIDES. THE ISABUREO RIVERS WERE USED BY THE PEMON AND SPANISH MISSIONS. BY 1817 THEY COLLAPSED. THE MOUNTAINS PROTECTED FROM EXTENSIVE INCURSIONS UNTIL THE 20TH CENTURY. DIRECT CONTINUOUS CONTACTS BETWEEN PEMON AND ANGLOS WERE MINIMAL. DIAMOD MINING HAS BEEN A STRONG AND SOCIAL INFLUENCE SINCE 1945. VENEZUELA GOVERNMENTS PRESENCE INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE SANTA ELENA AREA ON THE BORDER OF BRAZIL. ROAD PENETRATION DATES FROM THE EARLY 1970'S. IN THE 1990'S THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE WAS LAND ENTITLEMENT.

THEIR SETTLEMENTS RANGE FROM A SINGLE FAMILY TO A MAXIMUMOF 6 OR 7 FAMILIES. THEY PREFERED LOCATE HOUSES IN OPEN SAVANANAH BY STREAMS. THEY HAVE A ROUND HOUSE FOR LARGER CEREMONIAL CENTERS AND THEY DRAW LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

PEMON DWELLINGS MAY BE OBLONG OR ROUND, OR RECTANGULAR. THEY HAVE A NUCLEAR OR ETENDED FAMILY. THE HOUSES ARE OF MUD OR SLATTED WALLS WITH THATCHED ROOFS. THEY ARE OPEN AND UNDIVIDED INSIDE. THEY ARE MISSION TYPE.

THESE FOLKS ARE SLASH AND BURN CULTIVATORS, FISHERS, HUNTERS, AND GATHERES OF WILD FRUIT. THEY GROW MANIOC, PEPPERS, AND A LEAF VEGETABLE. THESE ARE THEIR MAIN DIET. THESE ARE THEIR MAIN DIET. YAMS, CORN, PUMPKINS, AND PLAINTAINS ARE ALSO GROWN. THEY EAT A LOT OF FISH.TODAY THEY USE SHOTGUNS TO HUNT TAPIR, DEER, PECCARIES, PACAS, AND BIRDS. GOURDS ARE RAISED AND USED ALONG WITH FOOD CROPS AND FOR MANIOC - BEER CONTAINERS. THEY MAKE MONEY IN DIAMOND DIGGING.

THEY MAKE DECOATED BASKETRY CLAY BOWLS, WOODEN DUGOUT AND BARK CANOES, AND PADDLES AND HAMMOCKS. THEY HAVE AN EXTENSIVE AND LONG DISTANCE TRADE NETWORK.THEY HAVE AN EXTENSIVE LONG TRADE NETWORK WITH LINKS WITH NEIGHBORING TRIBES. MANY ITEMS THEY TRADE WITH OUT CASH AND THEY KEEP ALL PEMON IN THE TRADE NETWORK THAT WAY.

EACH FAMILY HAS USAGE RIGHTS TO THE FIELDS IT CULTIVATES. WHEN THE FIELDS GO FALLOWTHE LAND REVERTS TO THE COMMUNITY.

NUCLEAR FAMILIES REVAIL WITH 2 - 3 GENERATIONS OF EXTENDED FAMILIES BUILD GENERATIONS OF EXTENDED FAMILIES BUILD UP AS SONS IN LAW MARRY IN OR BRING THEIR WIVES BAACK HOME AFTER BRIDE SERVICE.

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