SHUAR CULTURE IN ECUADOR

THIS TRIBE IS THE SECOND LARGEST OF THE AMAZON GROUPS. THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF SURVIVAL AND DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM OUTSIDERS. THEY LIVE IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF ECUADOR. THEY LIVE IN A ROCKY REGION OF ECUADOR COVERING 215,000 ACRES IN THE ANDES. THEY HAVE STEEP MOUNTAINS ON ONE SIDE AND VERY LARGE RAPIDS IN THEIR RIVERS TO THE EAST. SO THEY ARE ISOLATED. OUTSIDERS CALL THEM JIVARO. IN 1964 THE SHUAR FOUNDED AN ETHNIC FEDERATION TO HELP PROTECT FROM OUTSIDE INTRUSIONS.

TODAY THEY HAVE GIVEN UP THE HABIT OF SHRINKING HEADS AND ARE ADAPTING TO CONTEMPORARY LIFE. THEIR TRADITIONAL LIFESTYLE IS FADING AS THEIR VILLAGES ADAPT MODERN WAYS. MOST CONTINUE TO LIVE A TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE.

THEIR MYTHOLOGY IS RICH. ONE STORY IS THAT THEY HAD A SEVER FLOOD THAT KILLED ALL BUT TWO BROTHERS. WHEN WATERS RECEDED AND BROTHERS RETURNED TO A SHELTER THEY FOUND FOOD. ONE BROTHER FOUND A PARROT AND MARRIED HER. THE MARRIAGE PRODUCED THREE GIRLS AND TWO BOYS. THEIR DESCENTS BECAME THE SHUAR PEOPLE.

THE JIVARO ARE A VERY SOCIABLE. THEY 0OBTAIN MEAT AND VEGETABLE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. THEIR PRIMARY FOODS ARE IN THEIR GARDENS. THEY ARE SUPPLEMENTED BY SEARCHING FOR WILD PLAINTAINS AND OTHER EDIBLE FOODS. PROTEIN IN THE DIET IS OBTAINED BY RAISING CHICKENS AND HUNTING WILD GAME. AS WITH OTHER TRIBES THE MOST POPULAR DRINK IS BEER FROM FERMENTED MANIOC ROOT.

THEY BELIEVE SPIRITUAL FORCES INHABIT PLANTS, ANIMALS, AND OTHER OBJECTS. THEIR BEHAVIOR IS GUIDED THEIR BY THEIR DESIRE FOR SPIRITUAL POWER TO AVOID EVIL SPIRITS. THEY BELIEVE SICKNESS OR DEATH IS TO THE POWER OF THEIR ENEMIES. THEY WORSHIP MANY GODS. THEIR NUNGUI IS BELIEVED TO HAVE POWER OF THEIR ENEMIES.

THEY WORSHIP MANY GOODS. THEIR NUNGUI HAVE POWER TO MAKE PLANTS GROW. LIVING DEEP UNDERGROUND, SHE EMERGES TO DANCE IN THE GARDEN. THE SHUAR BELIEVE SINGING TO PROTECTIVE NUNGUI TO MAKE THE PLANTS GROW. THEY BELIEVE IN A PROTECTIVE SPIRIT THAT COMES TO THEM IN A VISION.

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