TACANA INDIANS IN BOLIVIA

THERE ARE 5000 TACANA INDIANS WHO LIVE ALONG THE MADRE DE DIOS IN BOLIVIA. THEY LIVE IN TROPICAL FORESTS AND THE FOOTHILLS OF THE ANDES. ABOUT 3500 FOLKS SPEAK TWO DIALECTS. IN 1539 THE FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES BUILT MISSIONS HERE. MANY TACANA SPOKE QUECHUA. TODAY THE TACANA WORK FOR CASH AS LABORERS OR CATTLE RAISING AS WELL AS FARMERS.

TRADITIONALLY THEY DEPENDED UPON FORAGING, ESPECIALLY VEGETATBLES AND FRUITS. THEY COLLECTED NUTS, FRUITS OF PALM TREES AND TURTLE EGGS WERE A LARGE PART OF THEIR DIET.THEY HUNTED IN GROUPS AND USED LARGE DOGS BY THE 1800'S. THEY USED BOWS AND ARROWS. THEY FISHED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DRY SEASON. THEY CAPTURE FISH IN POOLS LEFT BY RECEDING WATERS. THEY SOMETIMES USED THE SAP OF THE SOLIMAN TREES TO DRUG THE FISH.

IN HISTORIC TIMES THE TACUNA CENTURY RAISE CHICKENS AND IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY THEY ADOPTED CATTLE AND HORSE HUSBANDRY. THEY PLANTED GARDENS OF 50 X 20 M. THEY HVE PLANTATIONS OF BANANAS AND PLAINTAINS.

TRADITIONALLY SOME OF THE TACUNA GROUPS LIVED IN DWELLINGS THEY HOUSED UP TO TWENTY FAMILIES. THEY SLEEP IN HUTS DESIGNED TO EXCLUDE MOSQUITOS AND BATS. SOME GROUPS USED NO FURNITURE AND SLEPT ON THE GROUND. THEY USED PIECES OF BARK AS BEDS.

CHILDREN MARRY AT ABOUT AGE 10, BUT IT IS NOT CONSUMMATED UNTIL AFTER PUBERTY. WOMEN DELIVER THEIR CHILDREN IN THE FOREST. THEY HAVE RITUALS AND GAMES THAT PROVIDE SOCIAL INTERACTION.

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