TACANO INDIANS IN BOLIVIA

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

TRADITIONALLY THEY DEPENDED UPON FORAGING, EPECIALLY FOR VEGETABLES AND FRUITS. THEY COLLECTED NUTS AND FRUITS OF PALM TREES AND TURTLE EGGS WERE A LARGE PART OF THEIR DIET. THEY HUNTED IN GROUPS AND USED BOWS AND ARROWS EVEN IN THE 1800'S. THEY FISHED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DRY SEASON; THEY CAPTURE FISH IN POOLS LEFT BY RECEDING WATERS. THEY SOMETIMES USED THE SAP OF OF THE SOLIMAN TREE TO DRUG THE FISH. IN HISTORIC TIMES THE TACUNA RAISED CHICKENS AND IN THE TWENTIENTH CENTURY THEY ADOPTED CATTLE AND HORSE HUSBANDRY. THEY PLANTED GARDENS OF 50 X 20 M . THEY HAVE PLANTATIONS OF BANANAS AND PLAINTAINS.

TRADITIONALLY SOME OF THE TACUNA GROUPS LIVED IN DWELLINGS HOUSED UP TO 20 FAMILIES.

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