Tuesday, March 27, 2012

CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING SPIRIT CREEK

THIS WEEKEND OF SPRING EEQINOX WE RECEIVED A SPECIAL BLESSING BEFORE WE CLEANED UP THE CREEK. THERE WERE ALL AGES WHO JOINED THIS GROUP. THEY OPENNED WITH SAGE CEREMONY WITH THE BEATING OF A DRUM. THEY USED A LARGE SAGE INCENSE IN AN ABALONE SHELL. I HELPED INSTRUCT THE KIDS ABOUT POISON OAK, SOAPROOT, ACORNS AND BUCKEYES AND HOW WE USED TO USE THESE PLANTS IN PREHISTORIC TIMES. I ASKED THEM QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE LEAVES AND PINE CONES WE ALL HAD FUN AND GOT SOME EXCITEMENT . SOME TEENAGERS WALKED BY AND WERE DRINKING BEER AS WE WERE CPICKING UP ALL KINDS OF TRASH. WE EVEN FOUND A GROCERY CART INTHE CREEK!, THERE WAS A BIOLOGIST THERE WHO WAS TEACHING THE KINDS ABOUT SOME SMALL INSECTS AND WATER CREATURES HE CAUGHT IN A CONTAINER. WE ALL HAD FUN AND MET NEW PEOPLE.

Monday, March 26, 2012

GAIS GARDEN RESTUARANT

THIS RESTAURANT IS IN THE OLD SECTION OF DOWNTOWN SANTA ROSA IN FRONT OF COMMUNITY MARKET AND USUALLY HAS A SMALL COMMUNITY TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT. THEY HAVE A VARIETY OF ORGANIC FOODS MADE WITHOUT MEAT. THEY ARE IN FRONT OF THE COMMUNITY MARKET. WHENEVER I GO THERE THEY HAVE A NICE VENUE OF A SMALL BAND, GUITAR SINGER, OR STRING ENSEMBLE TO ENTERTAIN CUSTOMERS. THEIR ATMOSPHERE IS SIMILAR TO AN OLD TYPE OF COFFEE HOUSE. I APPRECIATE THE QUAINT ATMOSPHERE.

THE FIRST OWNERS DECIDED TO COOK PRIMARILY INDIAN FOOD. THEY ALSO HAVE COMEDIANS, POETRY AND OTHER PRESENTATIONS. THEY HAVE A GOOD LOOKING VEGETABLE AND FLOWER GARDEN IN FRONT OF THE RESTUARANT. THEY ALSO HAVE GOOD ART SHOWS ON THE WALLS.

GUAMBIANO INDIANS

GUAMBIANO INDIANS ARE IN COLUMBIA. THEY CALL THEMSELVES PEOPLE OF GAMBIA. THE OTHER PEOPLE CALLED THEMSELVES PEOPLE OF GUAMBIA. THE OTHER PEOPLE CALL PEOPLE IN THE ENVIRONS. OF SILVA, A SMALL TOWN. SOME LIVE ON MOUNTAINOUS FOOTHILLS OF 3000 M WITH COLD AND RAINY TEMPERATURES. THEY HAVE AN ANNUAL PRECIPITATION OF 130 CM. FORMERLY THEY HAD MORE VEGETATION. THEIR AGRICULTURE TECHNICIANS HAVE EXHAUSTED THEIR PRIMARY NATURAL VEGETATION. CUTTING DOWN THE WOODLANDS HAS REDUCED THEIR NATIVE VEGETATION THEY COLLECT AS WELL AS ANIMALS.

IN 1980 THERE WERE ABOUT 18,000 GUAMBIANO. THEY SPEAK GUAMBIANO. THEY SPEAK GUAMBIANO A PART OF THE CHIBCHA LANGUAGE. MANY ALSO SPEAK SPANISH, ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH. THEY RESIST LOSING THE CHIBCHA LANGUAGE.

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GUAJIRO INDIANS

THE GUAJIRO IS OF SPANISH ORIGIN WHO LIVE IN COLUMBIA AND VENEZUELA. THEY HAVE ABOUT 16,000 SQ. KM IN A BRUSH SAVANNAH WITH DESERT ZONES. THE RAIN COMES IN THE WINTER. THEY HAVE A DRY SEASON THERE DRY SEASON IS ALL SUMMER. THEY SPEAK ARAWAK LANGUAGE. THEIR POPULATION IS ABOUT 100,000. THE SPANISH REACHED THE COAST OF GUAYIROLAND IN
1499. THERE WERE ABOUT 7 SUBGROUPS. THEY SLEEP IN HAMMOCKS.

IN THEIR TRADITIONAL TERRITORY A NUCLEAR FAMILY SHARES THE SAME HOUSE. THEY BUILD LARGE COMMUNAL HOUSES FOR CEREMONIES AND MEETINGS CALLED MIICHIPALA. THEY HAVE GARDENS, SHEEP AND GOATS PENS. THEIR SOCIETY WAS EGALITARIAN. BASED ON AGRICULTURE, GATHERING, HUNTING, AND FISHING. TODAY IT IS STRONGLY PASTORAL. IN THE 1500'S THE FIRST LIVESTOCK ARRIVED. THE GUAJIRO BECAME WIDESPREAD AND THEY WERE FOSTERED BY MISSIONARIES. THERE WERE BLACK SLAVES WHO SETTLED AMONG THE GUAJIRO. ALL OF THE SIERRA KUSINA HAS CATTLE, SHEEP, AND GOATS FOR THEIR MAIN LIVELIHOOD. HORTICULTURE, HUNTING, AND FISHING WERE LESS IMPORTANT FOR WAGE LABOR FOR MESTIZO FAMILIES IN CITIES. PREVIOUSLY HORSES AND MULES WERE THE MOST VALUED.

WOMEN WEAVE HAMMOCKS OF COTTON, WITH RICH MOTIFS AND BEETS. THEY CHROCHET SMALL BAGS THAT THEY SELL AT LOCAL MARKETS.. MEN MAKE SANDALS AND SELL WOOLEN RUGS USING A BLANKET TECHNIQUE.

FOR CENTURIES THE GUARJIRO HAVE SOLD BRAZILWOOD TO MAKE DYES AND SKINS. MANY OF THEIR SHAMANS WERE WOMEN. MOST COUPLES LIVE WITH THE WIFE'S FAMILY AND IT CAN CHANGE. RICH MEN CAN BE POLYGYNOUS.

THE GUAJIRO ARE NOTR INTERESTED IN RELIGIOUS PRACTICES. THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN IN CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS. THEY BELIEVE IN A CULTURE HERO WHO WAS EATEN BY A JAGUAR. MALEIWA, THEIR CULTURE HERO REJECTED JAGUAR IN THE WILDERNESS. HE CREATED HUMANS AND IS TODAY OF LITTLE IMPORTANCE. THEY BELIEVE IN SEVERAL SUPERNATURAL BEINGS. THEY ALSO BELIEVE IN GHOSTS OF THE DEAD WHO CAN CAUSE ILLNESS.

THIER GOAT DANCE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A CEREMONY. THEIR GARDEN WORK HAD A CEREMONY AS WELL. SHAMANS USE TRADITIONAL BELIEFS BY CURING SICKNESS OR FORETELLING THE FUTURE. TODAY THE YANNA DANCE IS A COLLECTIVE DEMONSTRATION. IT MAY CELEBRTAE SUCCESS, THE TREND , THE END OF A PERIOD OF SECLUSION. AT THE END OF A PERIOD OF SECLUSION. ATTHE END OF A CURE THEY DANCE. FUNERALS ARE THEIR MOST IMPORTANT CEREMONIES.

THEY SING SONGS FOR HOURS. THE GUAJIRO HAVE TWO TYPES OF SICKNESS. IF THE DOMESTIC TREATMENT BY PLANTS AND FIRE BRANDS ARE INEFFECTIVE. THEN IT IS CAUSED BY SUPERNATURAL MEANS. TRADITIONALLY ONLY SHAMANS COULD ASSURE A CURE. TODAY MANY INDIANS FOLLOW DOCTORS AT HEALTH CENTERS OR GO TO HEALERS.ACCORDING TO TO THE GUAJIRO HUMAN SOULS CROSS THE PATH OF THE DEAD. THEN THEY ARE LOST. IN A LONG TIME THEY COME BACK TO EARTH AS TO ASSURE VEGETATION IN LIFE.

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Friday, March 23, 2012

EMBERO INDIANS OF COLUMBIA

THE EMBERO LIVE IN THE PANAMA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CHOCO. THIS AREA IS ATTRACTING MORE AND MORE HOMESTEADERS IN SEARCH OF CATTLE. MANY CULTURAL TRADITIONS HAVE DISAPPEARED. THESE PEOPLE WORK IN AN EFFORT TO SUPPLEMENT MEAGER INCOME.FROM FARMING AND TO PRESERVE THEIR LANGUAGE. THE EMBERO AND WAOUNAN PEOPLE RECORD SOME OF THEIR TRADITIONS AND THEY RECENT HISTORY. IS SIMILAR. THEY SPEAK CHACOAN. THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT 8,000 PEOPLE IN COLUMBIA AND PANAMA.

IN PRECOLUMBIAN EMBERA HISTORY REMAINS AMBIGUOIS. LIKE MANY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THEY HAVE HAVE BEEN SEMINOMADIC LIVES AS HUNTER, GATHERERS, AND FISHERS. THEY MOVE TO THE REMOTE PARTS OF THE RAINFOREST. THESE FOLKS WERE ARTISTS AND WARRIORS.

SCHOLARS ARE THOUGHT THAT THE EMBERA AND WANAN PEOPLE HAD RECENTLY MIGRATED TO PANAMA FROM THE STATE OF CHACO, COLUMBIA. THEY LIVED HERE MUCH BEFORETHE CONQUISTADORS. THEY HAD WARS AS WELL ACCORDING TO MYTHOLOGIES. THERE HISTORY HAS BEEN INFLUENCED BY NEIGHBORS. ON THE 7TH DAY THEY BUILT A DIRT HIGHWAY THROUGH THE JUNGLE TOWARDS THE BORDER

IT HAS OFFERED THE EMBERA ACCESS TO MODERN WOLD AND DESTROYED THEIR HUNTING AND GATHERING LIFESTYLE. THEY REALLY ALMOST ENTIRELY RELY ON AGRICULTURE.

THE WATER NEEDS OF THE PANAMA CANAL HAVE CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE OF CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS AND TWO LAKES.. COMMUNITIES WERE RELOCATED FROM THE LAKE . WAR, DRUGS, TRAFFICKING AND GUERILLA ACTIVITIES ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT INFLUENCEE THE MIGRATING OF THOSE COMMUNITIES. THE EMBERO PEOPLE LIVED IN TINY COMMUNITIES WHO HAD NO RIGHTS TO OR SUPPORT FROM THEIR GOVERNMENT. THEY HAQD A WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE IN 1983. THEY ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNIZE THEM POLITICALLY AS EMBERA-WAUNAN. THEY ADOPTED A COMPLEX STRUCTURE AND HAD COMMITEES ON EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND FISHING RIGHTS, FORESTRY, ART, ENTERTASINMENT AND WOMEN'S ISSUES. BY 1998 THE WAOUNANA
SEPARATED FROM THE EMBERA GROUP.

RELIGION INFLUENCED THESE GROUPS. CONQUISTADORS CONTROLLED THEIR GROUPS. ALSO CHRISTIANS TRIED TO CIVILIZE THE GROUPS AND ADOPT THEIR TRADITIONS. THEY HAVE FORCED TO STOP USING TRADITIONS. THEY HAVE FORCED TO STOP USING TRADITIONAL DRESSES, CULTURE. MEDICINE, MUSIC AND SPIRITUALFESTIVALS. IN PANAMA INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HAVE KEPT A STRONG GROUP ON THEIR ON THEIR CULTURE AND CONSEQUENTLY CHURCHES ARE MORE TOLERANT OF INDIGENOUS TRADITIONS. SOME EMBERA HAVE DECIDED NOT T ATTEND CHURCH THEY STILL HAVE DO BODY PAINTING AND RITUAL DANCING. THESE CHURCHES ARE PUTTING PRESSURE ON VILLAAGES WHO ARE TRYING TO REVIVE THEIR CULTURE.

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LOOT - PLAY AT SSU

LAST NIGHT I WATCHED A CRAZY PLAY AT SSU THAT WAS A FICTITIOUS FARCE ABOUT THE INTERACTIONS OF A RECENT WIDOWER IN LONDON . IT TOOK PLACE IN LONDON LAST YEAR WITH CORRUPTION, BRIBES, AND VICIOUS ACTS OF BRUTALITY THAT WERE FAKED. THE NURSE WHO TOOK CARE OF HIS WIFE WHO DIED AS WELL AS HIS SON DID NOT KNOW WHERE THEY FIT IN..THEY PLAYED WEIRD TICKS ON PEOPLE AND PRANKS WITH THE CORPSE THAT THEY WRAPPED UP LIKE A MUMMY! APPARENTLY SHE LEFT A BIG SUM OF MONEY TO THE NURSE AND THE WIDOWER GOT MADE. THE POLICE CAME IN SEVERAL TIMES TO TRY TO CONTROLAND ARREST THE NURSE AND THE WIDWER. SOME PEOPLE LEFT AS IT WAS QUITE RIDICOUSLOUS. I FOUND IT CONFUSING, YET SOME PARTS WERE VERY FUNNY. APPARENTLY IT WAS NOT A BIG HIT IN ENGLAND EITHER. THE CHARACTER WHO PLAYED A DETECTIVE/INSPECTOR WAS THE BEST AT STIRRING UP TROUBLE.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

CUBEO INDIANS

THE CUBEO ARE AN ETHNIC GROUP. THEY ROMP THEY REFER TO CLIFF MYTHICAL CLANS. THEIR VILLAGES ARE ALONGSIDE THE CUDIYARI AND QUERARI RIVERS. IN 1985 THEY HAD ABOUT 43,000 FOLKS SPEAK CUBEO.

THERE HAS BEEN NO ARCHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE VAUPES AREA. IN THE 1500'S EXPEDITIONS BEGAN TOWARD THE MIDDLE OF THE 17TH CENTURY WHEN MISSIONS WERE ESTABLISHED. BOTH SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE CROUENS WERE SPONSORED TO PROMOTE HACIENDAS, ANIMAL FARMS, AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS. IN REACTION OF ABUSE BY MISSIONARIES. AND CIVILIANS, THE CUBEO MANIFESTED THEIR DISCONTENT IN MESSIANI MOVEMENTS. THAT SUCCEEDED EACH OTHER.

FROM 19TH CENTURY THE MIDDLE OF THE 20TH CENTURY THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION WAS SUBJECTED TO SUBHUMAN CONDITIONS. THEIR TERRITORY WAS INVADED BY VARIOUS COUNTRIES FOR GOLD AND COCAINE. PART OF THEIR TERRITORY WAS GIVEN TO THE INDIANS BY THE STATE! THEY ARE ADJUSTING THEIR HEALTH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS TOO. THEY HAVE TRADE GOING ON BETWEEN THEIR NEIGHBORS. THEY BUILD A LARGE COMMUNAL HOUSE CALLED A MALOCA. ALTHOUGH IT IS NO LONGER USED FOR CEREMONIAL PURPOSES IT IS A COMMUNAL CENTER.

A VILLAGE IS A GROUP OF HOUSES ARRANGED AROUND A PLAYING A PLAYING FIELD. THEY HAVE THE SCHOOL OF THE HEALTH CENTER AROUND THE PLAYING FIELD. THE DESCENDANTS OF A CLAN ARE PART OF THE VILLAGE. RELATIVES CLOSE TO THEM SETTLE NEARLY. THEY USE SLASH AND BURN TECHNIQUES FOR SMALLER PLOTS OF LAND IN WHICH BITTER MANIOC IS PLANTED AS WELL AS FRUITS AND TUBERS. THEY ALSO HUNT, FISH, AND GATHER WILD PLANTS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS. THE COMPOSITE FAMILY IS IN ONE HOUSE. SURPLUS FOOD IS DISTRIBUTED TO RELATIVES. POTTERY AND ITEMS MADE FROM TREE BARK ARE IN ONE HOUSE. BASKETS AND WOOD WORKING IS MORE INTERESTING TO THEM. THEY MAKE TEXTILES OF PALM FIBER. SOME FOLKS STILL HAVE ANCESTRAL FLUTES AND TRUMPETS THAT PERTAIN TO THE VIRUPI RITUAL.

WOMEN PLANT AND HARVEST FIELDS AND PREPARE FOOD, MAKE BASKETRY , POTTERY, AND DO DOMESTIC WORK. MEN HUNT FISH GATHER WOOD, MAKE BASKETS AND CANOES AND HOUSES.

COMMUNAL HOUSES WERE WERE ORIGINALLY CALLED MALOCA. THEY ARE NOW USED AS CEREMONIALLY CENTERS AND TO CONGREGATE. THE MISSIONARIES TURNED THE GATHERING PLACES INTO THE PRESENT LOCAL UNIT. THEY BUILT A SCHOOL AND HEALTH CENTER AROUND THE FIELD. A CLAN IS MADE UP OF EXTENDED FAMILY THEIR DESCENDANTS.

THEY USE SLAB AND BURN FOR FARMING, THEY PLANT TOGETHER MANIOC, FRUIT AND GATHERING WILD PLANTS AND ANIMALS. FAMILIES ARE A UNIT OF PRODUCTION.

POTTERY TREE BARK FIBER IS STILL MADE. WESTERN PRODUCTS ARE REPLACING THE OLD. THEY STILL MAKE BASKETS, WOODWORKING, FISH TRAPS. THEY SMOKE MEAT. MANY PROCESS COCOA LEAVES AND EXTRACT GOLD. THEY WORK FOR LARGE COMPANIES. THEY TRADE MANY ITEMS. WITH THE ANGLOS.

THEIR ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE IS A SOCIETY WITH THE CUBEO CULTURAL LEGACY. THEY BELIEVED IN THE KWAIWA BROTHERS WHO CREATED THE COSMOS. IT WAS THE KUWAAAWAS WHO LEFT ANCESTRAL FLUTES AND TRUMPETS THAT ARE PLAYED IN THEIR IMPORTANT RITUALS. THE ORIGIN OF HUMANITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH ANCESTRAL ANACONDA. THE ANACONDA MOVED UP THE RIVER TO THE CENTER OF THE WORLD. IT BROUGHT FORTH PEOPLE, AND ESTIMATED THE CUBEO IDENTITY.

THE SHAMAN IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INSTITUTION OF THE RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR. THEY KEEP KNOWLEDGE AND ORDER OF COSMOS. IN RITUAL HE IS IS IN CHARGE OF COMMUNITY WITH ANCESTRAL SPIRITS. THEY HAVE SOME CEREMONIES THAT INVOLVE OTHER VILLAGES AND ONE IMPORTANT CEREMONY WAS THE MALE INITIATION. BUT IT I NO LONGER PERFORMED. THEY HAVE MANY PETROGLYPHS THAT MARK THEIR TERRITORY. THE CUBEO BELIEVE IN THEIR ANCESTORS CREATED THEM. MISSIONARIES HAVE REDUCED THEIR RITUALS. THEY STILL PAINT THEIR BODIES. THEY USE MANY HAND MADE INSTRUMENTS AS PANPIPES, SHELLS, STAMP FLUTES, MARACAS, AND RATTLES.

ILLNESS DEMANDS THE CONSTANT ATTENTION OF THE SHAMAN. IT MAY BE CAUSED BY EVENTS OR SEASONAL CHANGES. EACH INDIVIDUAL HAS AN ELEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE OF SHAMANISM. ONLY SHAMANS CARRY OUT CURING RITUALS. SHAMANS MAY POTENTIATE OR PRESERVE POWERS THAT ARE GOOD. WESTERN MEDICINE IS NOW USED BY HEALTH CENTERS IF NEEDED. THEY HELD COMPLEX RITUALS FOR DEATH AND SOME HAVE BEEN ABANDONED. WOMEN WEEP AND WITH MEN RECOUNT THE VIRTUES OF THE DECEASED. THEY BELIEVE THAT A DEAD PERSON'S SOUL WILL DISINTEGRATE IN THE UNDERWORLD.

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COFAN INDIANS

THE COFANS WERE ONCE NUMEROUS IN RIVERINE ECOTONES. THEY TRQDITIONALLY OCCUPIED WHAT IS TODAY THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF EQUADOR AND THE REGION TO NORTH IN COLOMBIA.

THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED INDEPENDENT CONSERVQTION EFFORTS. THEY HAVE 2000 FOLKS CARING FOR 1 MILLION ACRES OF RAIN FOREST. THEY HAVE SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITIONS IN THE HEART OF OF OUR TERRITORIES TO DEVELOP A RANGER A RANGER PROGRAM. THEY HAVE MADE INVENTORIES OF BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL RESOURCES. SCIENTISTS GATHER INFORMATION FOR LONG TERM CONSERVATION. THE INFORMATION IS TO LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL DECISIONMAKERS.
'
THEIR RANGERS HAVE HALTED DEFORESTATION IN ONE MILLION ACRES THEY PATROL AND NEARBY FORESTS. WITHOUT THEIR SUCCESS THE NATIONAL TREASURE AND CULTURAL TRADITION AND FOREST WOULD BE COMPLETELY LOST.

IN 1978 THEY BEGAN ECOTOURS BY TAKING TOURISTS ON EXOTIC AMAZON ADVENTURES. THEY BRING TOURISTS INTO THEIR WONDERFUL WORLD. THEY CAN GO ON CANOE TRIPS WITH A GUIDE AND EAT TYPICAL FOOD, AND SLEEP IN THEIR HUTS. THEY CAN TAKE PEOPLE HIKING AND STOP FOR OVERNIGHT CAMPING AND LEARN TO LIVE AS PART OF THE FOREST.

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BORA INDIANS IN COLUMBIA

THESE FOLKS LIVE DEEPLY IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON ALONG A MAIN RIVER. HISTORICALLY THEY WERE ENEMIESBUT IN RECENT TIMES THEY ARE ALLIES. THEY AREGREAT ARTISTS AND MAKE MASKS, DOLLS, RATTLES AND BLOWGUNS. THEY MAKE CLOTH OF BARK FROM A FIG TREE. THEY MAKE THEIR CLOTHING FROM BEATEN BARK CLOTH. THE HUI TOTO WOMEN AND MEN WEAR SHORT SKIRTS.

THERE IS A PALM TREE TO MAKE TWINE AND HAMMOCKS. THE BORA INDIANS WEAR DRESSES. THEY ALSO PAINT THEIR BODIES WITH WHITE AND RED PAINT.

THE BORA INDIANS ARE ONE OF THE PRIMARY INDIAN ATTRACTIONS IN IQUITOS. THEY HAVE 2000 FOLKS IN PERU AND 1000 IN COLUMBIA. SOME BRAZIL BORAS NO LONGER SPEAK THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE.

THEY HAVE CLANS BASED ON ANIMALS AQND PAINT THEIR FACES WITH DIFFERENT DESIGNS. THEY DANCE FOR TOURISTS USING 6 BATONS THAT THEY POUND IN THE GROUND. THE BATONS HAVE SHELLS SOMETIMES THEY SPEND THE WHOLE NIGHT. THERE MANGUARE DRUMS HAVE DIFFERENT FORMS, DEPENDING UPON IF THEY HAVE MALE OR FEMALE A VISITOR CAN WATCH BARK CLOTH BEING MADE BY POUNDING BARK OF PALM TREE. THEIR FIBERS ARE DYED USING NATIVE PLANTS.

THEIR COMMUNITY IN IQUITOS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE DETERIORATING. THEY ARE PASSING THEIR LANGUAGE TO THEIR CHILDREN. ANOTHER TEST OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IS THAT THE BORA BORA TRIBE HAS MANAGE TO RETAIN MUCH OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS.

THE COCA PLANT IS IMPORTANT TO THEIR DIET. IT ALLOWS THEM TO WORK MANY HOURS WITHOUT EXHAUSTION. (!) DO NOT CHEW THE RAW LEAVED! THE POWDERED PLANT IS MIXED WITH TOBACCO AND BLOWN INTO THEIR NOSE! SCIENTISTS ARE INCORPORATING SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PROJECTSBEING CONDUCTED IN BRILLO NUEVA. BEFORE THE 1900'S THE BORA WERE SEMI NOMADIC. THEYT PRACTICED SHIFTING AGRICULTURE AND SUBSIDIZED GATHERING, HUNTING, AND FISHING.

IN 1900 THE RUBBER BOOM CHANGED THEIR LIVES FOREVER. THE COMPNIES ENSLAVED THE BORAS! MANY WERE WIPED OUT . BY 1940 'S THEY HAD ONLY 450 PEOPLE..

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ARHUACO NATION IN COLUMBIA

THE ARHUACO WISH TO PROTECT THEIR SACRED HOME IN COLUMBIA. IF THE DO SO THEY WILL KEEP THEIR ENTIRE PLANET IN BALANCE. THESE FOLKS WERE DECENDANTS OF AN ANCIENT SOUTH AMERICAN CIVILIZATION CALLED TAYRONI WHO NUMBER 45,000 TODAY. FOUR CENTURIES AGO THEY FLED DEATH AND PESTILENCE TOO SEE A MOUNTAIN PARADISE. TO THIS DAY THEY REMAIN TRUE AND SPIRITUAL DICTATES OF THEIR CREATOR. THEIR INITIATION CAN TAKE UP TO 18 YEARS. THEY BELIEVE THEIR SPIRITUAL WORK ALONE MAINTAINS THE COSMIC

THEY HAVE A NINE TIERED UNIVERSE WHERE THEY GATHERPLANTS. IT TAKES 9 MONTHS FOR A CHILD TO DEVELOP. EACH REALM REFLECTS AND INFORMS AND INFORMS THE OTHER.

THE ARCHUACO TEND PLANTS ON THEIR TERRAINS OF PREVIOUS INDIAN CITY IN THE SIERRA NEVADA FOREST. THEY WERE FRIGHTENED BY 6 MONTHS OF VIOLENCE AND SLAVERY. THEIR CULTURE IS CENTERED AROUND LEADERSHIP OF PREISTS. THE SPANISH ATTACKED THEM FOUR CENTURIES AGO AND TODAY THEY AGAIN ARE BEING THREATENED.

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BEAR BUTTE IN SOUTH DAKOTA

I USED TO HIKE UP TO BEAR BUTTE IN SOUTH DAKOTA AFTER MY WORK AFTER MY WORK IN AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL LAB. THIS BUTTE IS A 4400' TALL BUTTE MAHO PAHA THAT IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. IT IS SACRED GROUND FOR 17 NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES SURROUNDING IT.

IT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE SPOT WHERE THE CREATOR COMMUNICATED WITH HIS PEOPLE THROUGH VISION AND PRAYER.. THE MOUNTAIN LOOK LIKE A BEAR SLEEPING ON IT'S SIDE. WHEN I WAS THERE THEY HAD SEVERAL BUFFALO INSIDE A FENCED YARD. ON TOP OF THE BUTTE WAS A OBLONG CIRCLE WITH ROCKS CALLED A VISION QUEST. HERE YOU CAN SEE FOUR STATES - SOUTH DAKOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, WYOMING, AND UTAH. THE DAKOTA, LAKOTA, AND CHEYENNE PERFORM CEREMONIES. THEY PUT SMALL CLOTHS STRIPS AND ROCKS IN THE TREES ON THE WAY UP AS OFFERINGS. THERE WERE SOME PREHISTORIC FLAKE REMNANTS ON THE TRAIL.

PRESERVATIONNATION.ORG

WAIWAI INDIANS IN GUYANA

WAIWAI MEAN TAPIOCA. THEY MAKE AND EAT MUCH TAPIOCA. THEY INTERMARRY WITH OTHER GROUPS. THEY LIVE ALONG THE RIVER MET THEM IN 1950'S. THEY ASSIMILATED MANY SMALL TRIBES WHO WERE IN THEIR VILLAGES.

THEY LIVE IN REMOTE VILLAGES. IN THE TROPICAL FORESTS OF GUYANA. THEY EXPANDED TRADE AND MARRIAGE CONTACTS. WHEN THE MISSIONARIES SETTLED HERE IN 1949 THEIR TRIBES RELOCATED NEAR THE MISSION. IN THE 1970S MOST MEMBERS RETURNED TO BRAZIL. IN 1989 THERE WAS ONE VILLAGE IN GUYANA AND THREE IN BRAZIL. THEY HAD A POPULATION OF ABOUT 200 IN THE 1950'S AND BY 1989THEY REACHED 1200 FOLKS (INCLUDING SMALL TRIBES). THEY SPEAK CARIB.

BY 1837 THEY HAD EXCHANGED BETWEEN TRIBES. THEY HEARD THE RUMOR THAT IF THEY DID NOT CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY, THEY WOULD BE DESTROYED BY A WORLDWIDE FIRE. IN THE 1970'S THE NEW INDEPENDENT GUYANESE GOVERNMENT WAS HOSTILE TO US MISSIONARIES AND MOST MOVED BACK TO THE FARMER SITES. THEIR VILLAGES HAD 15 TO 50 PEOPLE AND WERE IN A SINGLE HOUSE CALLED A MUMO. SETTLEMENTS WERE DISPERSED OVER A LARGE AREA AND MOVED EVERY 5 TO 7 YEARS WHEN THEIR HOUSE BECAME OLD OR THE RESOURCES WERE EXHAUSTED. THEIR MULTIFAMILY SETTLEMENTS WERE REPLACED WITH NUCLEAR FAMILY HOUSES. THEY TRAVEL FURTHER TO A NEW GARDEN OR HUNTING GROUNDS. VILLAGES MAKE UP NEIGHBORHOODS.

IN OLD TIMES THEIR SUBSISTENCE WAS BASED ON ON HUNTING, FISHING, GATHERING AND HORTICULTURE. THEIR CYCLE ALTERNATES BETWEEN DRY AND RAINY SEASONS. SOMETIMES THEY HAD PLENTIFUL FOOD AND OTHER TIMES SCARCITY. THEY ALSO GROW SMALL GARDENS AND USE THEM FOR ONLY THREE YEARS. THE MAIN CROP IS MANIOC, A POISONOUS TUBER THAT IS PROCESSED TO MAKE BREAD, FARINA, AND TAPIOCA. THEY GROW VARIOUS FRUITS, NUTS, AND OTHER TUBERS AND COTTON. THE FOREST PROVIDES PALM FRUITS, NUTS, AND OTHER MATERIALS. THEY HUNT WITH BOWS AND ARROWS TO CAPTURE MANY SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED ANIMALS. THEY FISH AND MAKE THEIR CANOES. CANOES AND MANIOC ARE SOLD TO COLONISTS.

THEY STILL MAKE MOST OF THEIR OWN TOOLS. FOR TWO CENTURIES THE WAIWAI HAVE TAKEN PART IN A VAST INTER TRIBAL NETWORK THAT STRETCHES FROM GUYANA TO NORTH BRAZIL. THE WAIWAI TRAIN HUNTING DOGS AND PARROTS AND TRAIN THEM FOR FLASHLIGHTS, MOSQUITO NETS AND FISHHOOKS.

MEN PROVIDE MEAT AND WEAVE BASKETS; WOMEN DO MOST GARDENING AND AND RAISE CHILDREN. THE VILLAGE BELONGS TO THE CHIEF! GARDENS BELONG TO THE PEOPLE WHO HELP WITH THEM.

THEY BELIEVE THE UNIVERSE IS SAID TO TO HAVE 5 TIERS : AN UNDERWORLD, THE EARTH, AND THREE HEAVENS. THEY HAVE MYTHS WHO RECOUNT THE ORIGINAL PRACTICES AND NATURAL PRACTICES. THEY HAVE SOME GOOD AND EVIL SPIRITS. THE MISSIONARIES PUT SHAME ON THEM. THEIR SHAMANS HELPED AS TEACHERS TO SUMMON GAME AND USE CURING RITUALS TO HEAL. SOME PEOPLE DISREGARD THE CHRISTIANITY BELIEFS.

TRANSITIONS WERE MARKED BY SECLUSIONS AND RITUALS. THEY HAVE SHODEWIKA FESTIVALS OR INTER VILLAGE DANCES. THEY COMBINE DANCING AND FEASTING WITH CHRISTIAN FEATURES.

THEY MAKE BASKETS, BEADWORK, FEATHERWORK AND BODY ORNAMENTATION. BEFORE THE MISSIONS, THE SHAMANS CURED ILLNESS THROUGH CONTACT WITH SPIRITS BY USING TOBACCO SMOKE AND SPIRIT STONES. THEY DO NOT HAVE AN EXTENSIVE PLANT LORE. THEY USE WESTERN MEDICINES WHENEVER THEY ARE INTRODUCED BY MISSIONARIES. THEY HAVE TRAINED HEALTH ATTENDANTS.

DEATH IS AN EXPLAINED SOUL LOSS CAUSED BY SPIRITS. THEIR PETS, POSSESSIONS, AND HOUSE ARE ALL DESTROYED BY THEIR RELATIVES. AT DEATH A PERSON TAKES ON SOME ANIMAL FORM THAT CAN BECOME A MENACING SPIRIT.

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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

YUKPA INDIAN

YUPKA MEANS "TAME PEOPLE". THEY HAVE MANY SUBGROUPS. THEY LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF COLUMBIA AND VENEZUELA. THEIR POPULATION IS 3400 FOLKS. FORTY NINE COMMUNITIES ARE IN THEIR REGION. THEY SPEAK A CARIB LANGUAGE.

SINCE PREHISTORIC TIMES THE YUKPA HAVE INHABITED THE SIERRA DE PERYA. ANCESTORS OF THE YUKPA FORMED A CARIB MIGRATION ACROSS NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA AND THIS DATE MAY HAVE BEEN ABOUT 4500 B.P. SOME RESEARCHERS BELIEVE THAT YUKPA DOES NOT EXCEED 10 CENTURIES. THEY REACHED HOMELAND BY 1000 B.P.

THEY HAVE FOLK TALES ABOUT HOW THEY ENCOUNTERED AND DEFEATED THE WANAPSA, THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THE MOUNTAINS. IN EARLY 1500'S WESTERNERS CONTACTED THEM. THEY WERE LOKING FOR FABLED CITY OF GOLD. THE YUKPA MOVED INTO THE MOUNTAINS. MISSIONARY EFFORTS WERE NOT VERY SUCCESSFUL. BY 1900'S THEY WERE IN CONTINUOUS CONTACT WITH SETTLERS. UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE MISSIONARIES THEY MOVED SETTLEMENTS CLOSER TO ROLLING HILLS AND MOUNTAINS. IN THE LAST THIRTY OR FORTY YEARS THEY HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT CHANGESTO THEIR SETTLMENT PATTERNS. SOME HAVE MOVED TO THE HAMLETS OF 2 - 3 HOUSES AND LARGER COMMUNITIES OF 20 HOUSES. MANY MEN AND WOMEN WORK OUTSIDE OF THE MOUNTAINSON LARGE DAIRY RANCHES. HERE THEY STAY FOR WEEKS BEFORE RETURNING TO THEIR FAMILIES.THE MORE AGRICULTURALISTS WHO PLANTED MAIZE, BEANS, AND SQUASHES, THAT ADDED TO THE EXISTING CROPS . THEY USE SLASH AND BURN AND HAVE ADDED COFFEE FOR SALE IN LOCAL MARKETS MARKETS. TODAY THEY RELY LESS ON GATHERING AND HUNTING AND FISHING BECAUSE RESOURCES ARE DEPLETING. TRADITIONALLY THEY DID LITTLE TRADING.

BOTH MEN AND WOMEN DO AGRICULTURE. MEN DO HEAVIER LABOR AND WOMEN DO MORE FOOD PREPARATION. WOMEN WORK IN HARVESTING AND WEEDING. SOME WOMEN ARE DOMESTIC SERVANTS. THE MEN BECOME CATTLE HERDERS AND MILKERS FOR LOCAL DAIRY FARMERS.

THE PATTERN OF LAND TENURE IS BASED ON THE RESULT OF GENERATIONS OF PASSING OWNERSHIP. BOTH MEN AND WOMEN MAY OWN LAND. THEY HAVE ZONA INDIGENA THAT IS RESERVED FOR THE SOLE USE OF INHABITNTS. MUCH OF THE REMAINDER OF THE SIERRA IS A NATIONAL PARK. ELDERS PLAY A LARGE ROLE IN CHILD RAISING AND STORY TELLING. THEIR RELIGION WAS ANIMISTIC IN NATURE. SUPERNATURAL POWERS WERE IN PLANTS AND THE ANIMAL WORLD. THEIR CREATOR HELPED ANIMALS TO CREATE THE FIRST COUPLE. ALL YUKPA ARE FROM THIS FIRST COUPLE. MYTHIC ANIMLS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEY MYTHIC ANIMALS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOUGHTS -THE WORLD WAS TWO FLAT DISKS THAT CIRCLED THE TWO SUNS.

THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE DWARFS IN THE UNDERGROUND. BY 1950 CATHOLICISM BEGAN TO CATHOLICISM BEGAN TO IN CATHOLICISM BEGAN TO INTEGRATE INTO THEIR RELIGION. BY 1950 CATHOLICSM BEGAN TO INTEGRATE INTO THEIR RELIGION. BY 1990 ALL UTOPIA ARE OUTSIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS, BUT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE RELIGION. IN A FEW TRADITIONAL YUKPA SETTLEMENTS THERE ARE SHAMANS WHO WHO GUIDE COMMUNITIES THROUGH IMPORTANT RITUALS. THEIR CEREMONIES MARK LIFE CHANGES BIRTH, PUBERTY, MARRIAGE, AND DEATH. DURING THEIR CEREMONIES THEY SING SPECIFIC SONGS AND LEAD DANCES. THEIR RELIGION IS IMPORTANT TO THEM. THEIR SONGS ARE COMPLEX. THEY HAVE INSTALLED TATTOOES ON FACE AND ARMS. THEY WEAVE SIMPLE DESIGNS INTO THEIR BASKETS.

SICKNESS IS EXPLAINED BY REFERENCE TO THE SUPERNATURAL. PEOPLE . PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL PLANT KNOWLEDGE ARE KNOWN AS TUANOS. THESES SHAMANS HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICINAL PLANT REMEDIES AND THROUGH METAPHYSICS THEY CONTROL AND CAN EFFECT REMEDIES.

AFTER DEATH THEY BURY PEOPLE IN A BURIAL HUT, ALONG WITH SOME POSESSIONS. THEY REACH THE AFTERWORLD AND ARE GUIDED BY KOPECHO, THE MATERIAL FROG.

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YEKUANA TRIBE

ABOUT 3000 YEKUANA LIVE IN THE GUANA HIGHLANDS. THEIR TERRITORY HAS FIVE RIVERS AND IT IS MOSTLY TROPICAL FOREST. THEIR THREE SUBGROUPS CAN BE DISTINGUISHED BY THEIR LOCATION AND DIALECTS OF THE CARRIBEAN LANGUAGE.

BY 1750 THEY MET THE SPANIARDS AND ARE IN AN INACCESSIBLE TERRITORY. THEY PREFER TO BUILD SETTLEMENTS ALONG RIVERS IN LOWER ELEVATIONS. THEY REBELLED AGAINST EXPLOITATION BY CHRISTIAN WHITES AND ONLY HAD SPORATIC TRADE WITH THEM.

THE YEKUANA BUILD LARGE COMMUNAL ROUNDS FOR ALL RESIDENTS. THEY HAVE WORK SHEETS WITH ROOFS OF PALM SHAFTS WHERE VISITORS CAN WATCH HOW THEY MAKE THEIR CRAFTS. THEIR INTERIOR OF THE COMMUNAL HOUSE HAS A CENTER ROOM FOR CEREMONIAL AND RITUAL PURPOSES. MEN TALK, EAT, AND WORK HERE. AND SHAMANS ARE ON THE BENCHES. WOMEN DON'T ENTER IT.

THEIR SUBSISTENCE IS BASED ON SHIFTING AGRICULTURA. MANIOC IS THE STAPLE CROP, TARO, YAMS, YAMS. MAIZE, BANANAS, SQUASH, SWEET POTATOES,PEPPERS, SUGAR, CACOA, PINEAPPLES, PAPAYAS, AND TOBACCO. THEY GROW COTTON AND CALABASH TREES. HUBTING IS A COMMUNAL DRIVE AND AND IS IMPORTANT. THEY HUNT TAPIR DEER, PECCAARIES, ANTEATERS, ALLIGATORS, ARMADILLOS, AND TURTLES. FISHING IS LESS SIGNIFICANT. MEN AND WOMEN FISH. FOOD GATHERING OF NATIVE PLANTS IS OF LITTLE IMPORTANCE.

IN EARLY TIMES THESE PEOPLE WEAR LOIN CLOTHES. WOMEN WEAR SMALL APRONS WITH GLASS BEADS.MEN INSERT ARROW REEDS WITH FEATHHERS IN THEIR EAR LOBES. THEY CUT THEIR HAI SHORT AND CUT PAINT THEIR BODIES BLUE.

MEN CUT THE FOREST AND BURN HE TREESD AND UNDERBRUSH IN PREPARATION FOR A NEW GARDEN. THEY ALSO HUNT , WEAVE BASKETS, AND MAKE HAMMOCKS AND DUGOUT CANOES, AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS . WOMEN SPIN BEADED GLASS AND MAKE APRONS. THEY SPEND TIME IN PROCESSING FOOD. OLD WOMEN MAY BE SEEN MAKING POTTERY. THEY LIVE IN VENEZUELA.

THEIR SOCIETY IS SIMILAR TO HAWAIIAN AND IROQUOIS SYSTEMS, MARRIAGE BETWEEN CROSS COUSINS IS PREFERRED. BOTH SEXES GO THROUGH INITIATION CEREMONIES.

THE YEKUANA COSMOLOGY IS COMPLEX. THEY HAVE THREE LEVELS OF HEAVEN, EARTH, AND THE UNDERWORLD. EACH STRATUM REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT COSMOLOGICAL STATION. THE UPPERMOST REGION IS INHABITED BY WANDI THEIR SUPREME BEING AND SON OF THE SUN.

SHAMANS RECIEVED THEIR CURING ITEMS FROM HIM AND CONFRONT ILLNESSES CAUSED BY SPIRIT INTRUSION. THEY CHANT, BREATHE, SMOKE TOBACCO, MASSAGE AND BLOW AND SUCK ILLNESSES OUT OF THE PATIENT. THE DEAD ARE BURIED IN AQ CANOE AWAY FROM THE VILLAGE. IF PEOPLE DIE FROM AN EPIDEMIC THEY ARE BURIED INSIDE A HOUSE THAT IS BURNED. IN RECENT TIMES THEIR CULTURE IS BEING INFLUENCED BY MISSIONARIES.

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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

GUAEJURO INDIANS

THE GUAJIARO LIVE IN COLUMBIA AND VENEZUELA. THEIR NAME IS SPANISH. THEY HAVE ABOUT THEY HAVE ABOUT 16,000 KM OF AREAS ON A PENNISULA. ABOUT 1/2 OF THE POPULATION LIVES ON THE VENEZUELAN SIDE. THE REGION HS BRUSH SAVANNAH AND DESERT ZONES. NO ONE HAS TAKEN CARE A CENSUS HAVE ABOUT 100,000 FOLKS. THE SPANIARDS REACHED THEIR COAST OF THEIR LAND IN 1500 A.D. THERE WERE SEVERAL COEXISTING IN GUAEJUROLAND. THEIR HOUSES WERE SEPARATED SEPARATED BY 10 M. THEY HAD NUCLEAR FAMILIES. THEY BUILD A WHERE HAMMOCKS ARE HUNG AT NIGHT; A KITCHEN OF WALLS AND CACTUSES.

THEIR MUCHIPALA HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE. THEY ARE SEVERAL KM FROM EACH OTHER. THEY ENTERTAIN VISITORS ON THEIR PORCHES THAT ARE COVERED. IN THE PAST , THE GUAJURO WAS A HUNTING, GATHERING, AND FISHNG CULTURE AND GREW SOME CROPS. TODAY IT IS
A STRONG HIERARCHICAL PASTORAL CULTURE. THEY HAVE LIVESTOCK FROM THE SPANISH IN THE
16TH CENTURY. THEY HAVE CATTLE AND HORSES. THE MISSIONARIES SPREAD THIS TYPE OF LIFE, BLACK SLAVES BY FORCE SETTLED AMONG THE GUAJIRO. THEY STILL KEEP CATTLE, SHEEP, SHEEP, GOATS, AS A SOURCE OF NOURISHMENT. HUNTING, FISHING, AND HORTICULTURE HAVE BECOME MARGINAL FOR WAGE LABOR. THE LIVESTOCK GO TO MARKET AND ARE A PRESTIGE ITEM. MULES ANDS HORSES ARE VALUED. THEY HAVE PRACTICALLY DISAPPROVED NOW. THE WEALTHY GUARARO BUY PICKUPS. IN THE LATE 1980'S 8 OF 10 SHAMANS WERE WOMEN.

THE GUAEJURO ARE INCLINED TO RELIGIOUS PRACTICES. CHRISTIAN RELIGION HAS MADE LITTLE IMPACT ON THEM. THEIR CONCEPT OF THE WORLD IS DUALISTIC. SHAMANS STILL CONTINUE TO CORROBORATE TRADITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS AND BELIEFS, BY CURING SICKNESS OR DISEASE OR FORETELLING THE SITE OF A NEW HOUSE. PREVIOUSLY A COLLECTIVE HORTICULTURE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A CEREMONY THAT HAS DIS APPOINTED . IT IS A GOOD DANCE WITY CURSES OF HORSE MEAT. TODAY A COUPLE DANCE TO THE BEAT OF A DRUM. IT IS ORGANIZED TO CELEBRATE AN ECONOMIC SUCCESS, THE VISIT OF AN IMPORTANT PERSON; THE END OF SECLUSION OF SOMEONE; AND OTHER EVENTS. IT IS PRESCRIBED BY A SHAMAN AT THE END OF A CURE.

SONGS CAN LAST FOR HOURS AND ARE A TRUE A TEST OF ENDURANCE. THEY HAVE TWO TYPES OF ENDURANCE. THEY HAVE TWO TYPES OF SICKNESS. BEYOND A CERTAIN THRESHOLD OF PAIN THE DOMESTIC TREATMENTS BY PLANTS ARE USED. IF THE CONDITION IS NOT USED HEALED THEN ITS CAUSE IS BELIEVED TO BE SUPERNATURAL. SHAMANS ARE USED TO HEAL PEOPLE. IF THIS DOES NOT WORK THEY GO TO DOCTORS.

ACCORDING TO THIS TRIBE WHEN PEOPLE DIE THEIR SOULS CROSS THE MILKY WAY AND GO TO A PENINSULA OF THE DEAD. THUS THEY ARE LOST. THEN AFTER MANY YEARS THEY COME BACK TO EARTH AS RAIN, ASSURING REJUVENATION OF LIFE AND VEGETATION.

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ZUNI FETISHES

ZUNI FETISHES ARE SMALL CARVINGS MADE FROM VARIOUS MATERIALS. THEY SERVE A CEREMONIAL PURPOSE FOR THE CREATORS AND THEY DEPICT ANIMALS AND ICONS INTEGRAL TO THEIR CULTURE. THEY ARE SOLD WORLDWIDE AS A FORMS OF OF CONTEMPORARY NATIVE AMERICAN ART.


THE ZUNI WORLD IS MADE OF 6 REGIONS OR DIRECTIONS BASED ON THE BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY. THEY HAVE A YELLOW MOUNTAIN TO THE NORTH, BLUE MOUNTAIN TO THE WEST, RED MOUNTAIN TO THE THE SOUTH, WHITE MOUNTAIN TO THE EAST, MULTI-COLORED MOUNTAIN ABOVE, AND BLACK MOUNTAIN BELOW.

EACH DIRECTION IS REPRESENTED BY A PREY GOD OR GUARDIAN ANIMAL. THE NORTH IS REPRESENTED BY A LION, THE WEST BY BY A BLACK BEAR, THE SOUTH BY A RED BADGER, EAST IS A WOLF, SKY IS THE EAGLE. THESE ANIMALS HAVE PROTECTIVE AND HEALING POWERS. THE MASTER OF THE REGIONS IS THE ELDER BROTHER TO ALL ANIMALS OF THE REGION.

THE MATERIALS THEY USED FOR THEIR FETISHES WERE OFTEN FROM THEIR REGION OR TRADED IN . TURQUOISE, JET, SHELL AND MOTHER OF PEARL., AND CORAL. THEY ALSO USED FOSSILIZED IVORY, BONE AND DEER ANTLER. THE ZUNI HUNTER WAS REQUIRED TO HIS FETISHES WITH A KEEPER AND PRACTICE A CEREMONY OF WORSHIP WHEN PROCURING. A FAVORABLE OR PROPER FETISH TO AID IN THE SUCCESS OF A FAVORITE HUNT. THE FETISH WAS IN A BUCKSKIN BAG AND CARRIED BY THE HUNTER OVER HER HEART. THE FETIUSH REPRESENTS THE ROAR OF THE ANIMAL. THE FETISHES REQUIRE A MEAL OF CORNMEAL ANDGROUND TOURQUIOSE. THEY MAY BE KEPT IN A POCKET OR A BAG.THE ARTIST ALL HAVE DIFFERENT STYLES. THEY MAY SIGN THE FETISH OR NOT THE CONTEMPORARY FETISH MAY CARRY AN OFFERING OF A SMALLER ANIMAL OR A PRAYER BUNDLE.

MOST CARVERS ARE ARE THE RECIPIENTS OF FAMILY TRADITION AND HAVE LEARNED TO WEAR HEISHE NECKLACES, FEATHERS, OR ETCHINGS THAT REPRESENT PETROGLYPHS OR AN INLAID HEARTLINE.

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SANTA ROSA SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA

ON SUNDAY MARCH 4TH I VENTURED TO THE SONOMA COUNTRY DY SCHOOL BY OUR AIRPORT. THEY HAD A 3 HOUR CONCERT BY HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR HIGH SCOOL STUDENTS. THE FIRST 2 PERFORMANCES HAD 2 VIOLIN TYPES, A VIOLA, CELLO, DOUBLE BASE, FLUTES, PICCOLOS, OBOES AND CLARINETS.

THE SECOND PERFORMANCE HAD ABOUT 10 MORE PERFORMERS INCLUDING SONGS THAT HAD MORE ZEST. THE MUSICIANS WQERE FLUTES, SAXAPHONES, BASSOONS, DRUMS, HORNS, TRUMPET, BROMBON, TUBA, TUMPANI, PERCUSSIONS AND HARPS.

Monday, March 19, 2012

GUAHIBO AND SIKUNI INDIANS

THE GUAHIBO PEOPLE HAVE A POPULATION OF 9000 IN VENEZUELA. THEY HAVE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STRESS SYSTEMS. THEIR NAME ORIGIN IS APPLIED TO SEVERAL ETHNIC GROUPS. GUAHIBO IS USED BY GROUPS TO REFER TO AUTHENTIC PEOPLE. THEY LIVE ALONG THE RIO GUAYABERE. THEY TRADITIONALLY LIVE IN THE EASTERN COLOMBIA PLAINS, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA BETWEEEN THE VARIETY OF RIVERS, IN THE 1950'S SOME MIGRATED TO THE EAST. THEY ARE SPREAD IN COLUMBIA. AND VENEZUELA. THEIR LANGUAGE IS ARAWAKEN.

THEY WERE NOMADIC HUNTERS AND GATHERERS AND SEDENTARY RIVER DWELLERS WHO KNEW HORTICULTURE. BEGINNING IN 18TH CENTURY THEY SETTLED ON RIVERS AND CHANGED FROM HUNTING AND GATHERING TO SEMI SEDENTARY HORTICULTURE. FROM THE 17TH CENTURY AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF THE JESUITS, THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO CONGREGATE WITH THEM. THEY HAD INTERETHNIC CONFLICTS. THEIR TERRITORY WAS INVADED BY CATTLE RANCHERS AS LODGING, THE NATIVES WITH BULLETS. THE INDIANS ASSAULTED TRAVELLERS. AS LATE AS 1960'S CATTLE RANCHERS OF THE PLAINS CONTINUED TO RAID AGAINST NOMADIC GROUPS

THE SIKUNI AND GUAHIBO LIVED IN VILLAGES WITH 50 PEOPLE. THEY DEVELOPED IN PROXIMITY WITH MISSIONS. THEIR POPULATION EXCEEDED 100 INDIVIDUALS. THE SETTLEMENT SIZE AND MUTUAL PROXIMITY DETERMINED THEIR ECONOMIC WELL BEING. THEIR MOBILITY IS A FACTOR OF SURVIVAL. IT'S BASED ON THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO STRICT TERRITORIAL CITY. WHATEVER THEIR ORIGINAL TERRITORY THEY CONSIDERED THEMSELVES RELATED AND CAN ESTABLISH NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONS AND ALLIANCES IN ANY PART OF THE AREA. THEIR CREATION OF RESERVES ZONES AND PROTECTED AREAS SINCE 1970'S HAS LIMITED THEIR TRADITIONAL MOBILITY AND RESULTED IN DEFINITIVE SEDENTARY GROUPS.

THE BASIS OF THEIR ECONOMY AND SIKUNI SUBSISTENCE IS BITTER MANIOC. THEY PLANT MAIZE, SWEET POTATOES, SUGARCANE AND PEPPERS. THEY DO HUNTING, FISHING, AND GATHERING. THIS CONTRIBUTES TO AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THEIR DIET. SOME PEOPLE TRAVEL TO FIND ABUNDANT ANIMALS, AND RESOURCES. PIGS AND CHICKENS ARE RAISED FOR SOME TRADING. THE INDIANS WORK AS RANCH HANDS OR AS TEACHERS.

THEY MAKE BASKETS AND POTTERY AND HAVE SPECIAL CRAFTS FOR TRADE OR JUST FOR ART. THEY WEAVE TRAYS WITH DESIGNS OF SYMBOLIC VALUE. HAMMOCKS ARE MADE OF PALM FIBERS.

AT THE TIME OF CONTACT WITH ANGLOS THEY HAD AN ACTIVE TRADE CONNECTION WITHIN THE REGION. THE GUAHIBO EXCHANGED THEIR GAME AND GATHERED PRODUCTS AS ITEMS FROM FAR AWAY. THEY HAD A LOSS OF POPULATION AND THE LOSS OF SPECIALIZATION AS WELL AS DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY.

MEN CUT AND BURN THEIR FIELD TO PREPARE FOR NEXT SEASON PLANTING. A MAN WHO WANTS TO MARRY MUST WEAVE A MANIOC AND OTHER BASKETS TO GIVE TO HIS FUTURE BRIDE. WOMEN DO THE PLANTING AND HARVESTING AND PREPARE FOOD FOR AND GRIDDLE CAKES AND LEACH MANIC. THEY ALSO MAKE POTTERY.

THE GUUAHIBO - SIKUNI WORLD RESULT OF THE ACTION OF THERE CULTURE HEROS WHO MADE THE WORLD ALIVE. THEY HAD MANY DEITIES -BOTH BENEFICIAL AND TRANSFORMATIVE. BY THE 20TH CENTURY CHRISTIANITY WAS GROWING. THEIR USE OF THE PSYCHOTROPIC YOPA HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. NATURE AND GRANDPARENTS OF THE ANIMALS APPEAR AS GHOSTS. THEY MUST BE MODERATED TO CONSERVE RESOURCES.

THEY HAVE A RITUAL FOR A GIRL WHO HAS REACHED PUBERTY. THERE IS A PRAYER FOR NAMING ANIMALS OF THE HUNT THAT MIGHT HARM THE CHILD. STORYTELLING IS THE MOST APPRECIATED ART FOR THE SIKUNI. THEY ALSO PLAY PAN FLUTES.

THEIR BASIS OF MEDICINE THE USE OF YOPA OR TOBACCO. WHEN SHAMANS INGEST THESE MEDICINES THEY HAVE AN ABILITY TO SEE PATHOGENIC AGENT, LIKE HAIR OR CRYSTALS IN THE BODY AND EXTRACT ITAND RETURN THEM TO WHOEVER SENT THEM . THEY ALSO ENTER A TRANCE. UPON DEATH A SHAMAN USES THE SUBSTANCES TO IDENTIFY AN ENEMY WHO CAUSED DEATH.

THEIR CEREMONY TAKES PLACE 2 - 3 YEARS AFTER A BURIAL. MANIOC BEER IS SERVED. THEIR SPIRIT IS BELIEVED TO GO TO THE WORLD OF THE DEAD.

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Friday, March 16, 2012

CUIVA INDIANS

THE NAME CUIVA IS FOUND IN THE LITERATURE AND IS USED IN COLUMBIA TO DESIGNATE SOME SIX GROUPS OF NOMADIC HUNTERS AND GATHERERS LIVING NEAR VENEZUELA. MEMBERS OF EACH BAND IS CALLED OUR PEOPLE THEY ARE IDENTIFIED AS RIVERS.

THEIR LANDS ARE LOCATED ON GRASSY SAVANNAHS WITH RIVERS AND A GALLERY FOREST THAT FRINGES THE BANKS. THE CUIVA POPULACE IS ABOUT 1500. THE ENTIRE GUAHIHOAREA HAS ABOUT 20,00 FOLKS.

THE CUIVA HAVE PROBABLY ALWAYS OCCUPIED THIS TERRITORY. THEY HAVE UNDERGONE MANY TRANSFORMATIONS. IN 1533 THE EUROPEAN INVADERS CAME IN PURSUIT OF MYTHICAL EL DORADO. JESUIT MISSIONARIES WERE THE FIRST TO COLONIZE THE AREA AND HAD LIMITED IDEAS WITH THE GUAHIBO HORTICULTURALISTS. THEIR CONTACTS WITH NOMADS WERE AT TIMES VIOLENT. AFTER THE JESUITS LEFT IN 1767 THE 200 YEARS FOLLOWING WERE QUIET. AFTER THE JESUITS LEFT IN 1767 THE 200 YEARS FOLLOWING WERE QUIET.

IN 1950 IN THE CIVIL WAR CATTLE HERDERS PUT PRESSURE ON CUIVA TERRITORY. RELATIONS WERE THE ANGLOS HAS BEEN A DISASTER; CUEVOS HAVE BEEN CHASED FROM MANY PARTS OF THEIR LAND. CAMPS HAVE BEEN ATTACKED WITH GUNS. THEY SOUGHT REFUGE ALONG SMALL RIVERS. THEY SURVIVE NOW BY CULTIVATING NEW CREATED GARDENS. THE CUEVA VISIT FOR PRESSURE AND BREAK THE ROUTINE.

THEY LIVE IN AN AREA OF A FEW THOUSAND SQUARE KM. THERE ARE NO PERMANENT SETTLEMENTS THEY CAMP BY HANGING THEIR HAMMOCKS IN THE FOREST. THIS SITE IS LEFT AFTER A WEEK. IN THE RAINY SEASON WHEN EACH TRIP IS USUALLY LONGER BECAUSE MANY PARTS OF THE FOREST ARE FLOODED AND NOT SUITABLE SUITABLE FOR OCCUPATION. DURING THE RAINY SEASON, THE CUIVA USE PALM LEAVES TO BUILD LEAN TO SHELTERS. IN THE DRY SEASON THEY USE HAMMOCKS.

THEY LIVE IN A FLUENT SOCIETY - WOMEN GROW VEGETABLES AND GATHER FOODS IN OR NEAR THE RIVERS. THE MEN HUNT. FOOD IS SHARED AMONG ALL. THEIR WORK IS ABOUT 20 HOURS A WEEK. FOOD IS SHARED AMONG ALL. THEIR WORK IS ABOUT 20 HOURS A WEEK AND THEY EAT ABOUT A POUND OF MEAT AND VEGETABLES EACH DAY. THEY HAVE A VERY SIMPLE TECHNOLOGY.

THEY HAVE INTENSIVE TIME ONCE A MAN AND WOMAN MARRIES. THEY DO EVERYTHING TOGETHER. CUIVA COSMOLOGY PROVIDES A SYSTEM FOR HUMAN INTERACTION AND A MORAL GUIDE. THEY BELIEVE THE WORLD IS IN A STATE EQUILIBRIUM - ANIMALS AND PLANTS RETURN; PEOPLE REINCARNATE.

THEY HAVE TWO RITUALS - 1 WITH A FEMALE PUBERTY AND ONE WITH ANOTHER WHENEVER FOODS ARE ABUNDANT. BOTH RITUALS ARE SPECIAL OCCASIONS THAT CAN BE DEEPLY RELIGIOUS AND PROVIDE FOR COMMUNAL FEASTING AND REJOICING.

THEY DO BOTTLE PAINTING FOR ARTS. COMMUNAL DANCING AND SINGING RANGING FROM REPETITIVE DANCES TO IMPOVERISHED BALLADS. THEY TALK, DISCUSS, AND JOKE WITH OTHERS AS AN ART. THEY BELIEVE ILLNESS COMES FROM EVIL FORCES AND ARE SENT BY AN ENEMY. THE ABILITY TO CONTROL MALEVOLENT FORCES IS A WAY TO HARM O TO CURE, BASED ON ONES KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD. THE CUIVA SAY ANYONE CAN CURE. ONLY SOMEONE OLDER CAN REALLY BE EFFECTIVE. THEY PRACTICE INCINERATION AND BELIEVE THE BODY COMES BACK AS A NEW BODY.

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CARIB INDIANS

CARIB ARE KALINGO PEOPLE WHO THE CARIBBEAN WAS NAMED FROM. THE PEOPLE SPEAK AN AMERIDIAN OR CARIB LANGUAGE AND LIVE IN VENEZUELA. THEY RAIDED ON OTHER GROUPS THAT RESULTED SO MANY FEMALE ARAWAKS AS CAPTIVES. THE WOMEN SPOKE KALLUPHOA AN ARAWAKAN LANGUAGE THEY COEXISTED WITH A RELATED CARIBBEAN SPEAKING GROUP.

THE CARIBS ARE BELIEVED TO MIGRATED FROM THE ORINOCO RIVER ON SOUTH AMERICA TO SETTLE IN THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS ABOUT 1200 A.D. BASED ON CARBON DATING. DURING TO COLUMBUS'S ARRIVAL HERE IN 1492, THE CARIBS DISPLACED THE MAIPAIPUREAN DISPLACED THE FOLKS WHO SETTLED THE ISLAND CHAINS EARLIER IN HISTORY.

THE CARIBS TRADED WITH EASTERN TAINO. THE CARIBS PRODUCED SILVER. NON OF THE INDIANS MINED FOR GOLD, BUT OBTAINED IT BY TRADE FROM THE MAIN LAND. THEY BUILT BOATS AND WERE SAILORS. THEY APPEARED TO HAVE TO OWED THEIR DOMINANCE IN THE CARIBBEAN TAINOS WHO SETTLED HERE. THEY TRADED WITH THE CARIBS. THEN THE CARIBS WERE DISPLACED BY EUROPEANS WITH A GREAT CLASS OF LIFE. THE CARIBS CAUGHT EUROPEAN DISEASES AND THE NO IMMUNITY.

THE RUGGED AREA OF DOMINICA WAS WAS FOR THE CARIBE TO HIDE FROM TO HIDE FROM ENEMIES. BY 1903 THERE WERE ONLY 3000 PEOPLE REMAINING. THEY ELECTED A CHIEF. IN 2003 THEY HAD 100 YEARS OF TERRITORY. APPARENTLY THEIR TERRITORY ON THE EAST COAST WAS GRANTED TO BRITAIN IN 1903.

THE DESCENDANT OF THE CARIB ARAWAK AND WEST AFRICA PLAY AND SING MUSIC DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF CENTRAL AMERICA. THE MOST FAMOUS FORM IS THE GARIFUNA OR PUNTA ROCK. TODAY THEY DO COMPETITIVE DANCING IN BRAZIL, AND THEY HAVE ADDED GUITARS. THERE ARE MANY VARIATIONS OF GARIFUNA MUSIC. IT IS PERFORMED ON HOLIDAYS OR SPECIAL EVENTS. THE WOMEN HAVE A WAY OF COMPOSE LYRICS. DRUMS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE SONG. THEY MAKE SHAKERS FROM DRIED FRUIT OF THE GOURD TREE.

THE CARIB ORIGINAL BELIEF WAS IN MANY GODS. BUT THE SPANISH TRIED TO CONVERT THEM TO CATHOLICS. THE KALINGO RELIGION PRACTICED BY THE CARIB BELIEVED IN AN EVIL SPIRIT PRACTICED BY THE CARIB BELIEVED IN AN EVIL SPIRIT CALLED MAYBOURJA. THEIR SHAMANS WERE TREATED WITH RESPECT. THEIR CEREMONIES HAD TOBACCOAS PART OF THEIR RITUALS.

EUROPEANS REPORTED WOMEN LIVED IN SEPARATE HOUSES FROM THEIR MEN, SIMILAR TO OTHER SOUTH AMERICAN TRIBES. THE WOMEN CARRIED OUT IMPORTANT DUTIES OF CHILD REARING AND WERE HIGHLY REGARDED.

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Thursday, March 15, 2012

BANIVA INDIANS

BANIVA LANGUAGE THAT HAS BEEN USED SINCE EARLY COLONIAL TIMES AND PROBABLY BEFORE. THEY REFERRED TO THE ARAWAKEN SPEAKERS OF THE RIO ICANA IN THE NW AMAZON. THEY HAVE 5 DIALECT GROUPS. THEIR NEIGHBORS ARE WAKILENAI AND THEY REFER TO THEM BY JAGUAR PEOPLE.

SINCE ABORIGINAL TIMES THEY HAVE LIVED IN THIS REGION OF BRAZIL AND VENEZUELA. IN 1985THEIR POPULATION WAS 5375 IN COLUMBIA.

FROM 3500 BP NORTHERN MAIPURE SPEAKERS OCCUPIED THE RIO NEGROW WHERE THEY HAD NOMADIC MAKU PEOPLES. BY THE TIME OF THE FIRST EUROPEANS IN 1850'S THESE TRIBES HAD MANY NEIGHBORS. THEY CONTINUOUSLY HAD SHIFTING PATTERNS OF WAR AND ALLIANCE. THE PORTUGUESE AND SPANISH SLAVE TRADE PENETRATED THEM AND GAVE THEM INTER TRIBAL WARFARE. AND SEVERAL TRIBES DEPOPULATED. BY 1755 THE SLAVERY TRADE WAS ENDED. DISEASES AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS MANY TO RETURN TO HOMELAND AREAS.

BY THE EARLY 1`9TH CENTURY BRAZILIAN AND VENEZUELAN TRADERS BEGAN WORKING ON IN THE AREA AND EXPLOITED INDIAN LABORERS. THIS RESULTED IN RESISTANCE BY INDIAN PHOTOS. KAMIKO WHOSE INFLUENCE LASTED FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS AND EXTENDED TO OTHER TRIBES.

BY 1870'S THE RUBBER BOOM REACHED THE UPPER RIO NEGRO INTENSIFYING. EXPLOITATION OF WAKUENAAII LABOR. THE BANIVA AND WAKUENA LIVING IN TERROR. MORE ANGLOS CAME TO GOLD PAN.

THEIR MARRIAGES ARE USUALLY ARRANGED BY THEIR PARENTS. COMMUNITIES INCLUDE DISTINCT RELATIVES. MOST MARRIAGES ARE STABLE THROUGHOUT A LIFETIME. THEY DO NOT HAVE A SYSTEM OF PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT ARE REGULATED. THEY REGARD THEIR ELDERS AS PART OF A NUCLEAR FAMILY AND MAY LIVE WITH ONE OF THEIR MARRIED CHILDREN. GIRLS HELP THEIR MOM'S WITH GARDENING AND DOMESTIC AND BOYS FORM PLAY PACKAGES ENGAGING IN MALE PURSUITS AS HUNTING AND FISHING. GRANDPARENTS DISCIPLINE . THE CHILDREN HAVE INTENSIVE INITIATION RITES AND THEY ARE TAUGHT LAWS OF THEIR ANCESTORS, SOCIAL LIVING, AVOIDANCE OF VIOLENCE . MISSIONARY FOLKS HAVE INTOLERANCE OF THEIR RITUALS..

THEIR ANCESTRAL BELIEFS WERE BASED ON CREATIVE BELIEFS BASED ON BASED ON CREATIVE AND GENERATIVE RELATIONS AMONG HUMANS, ANIMALS, AND THE SPIRIT WORLD. THE SHAMANS MEDIATE BETWEEN HUMANS AND THE DEITIES. AND THEY USE THE POWERS OF THE HIGHEST DEITIES.

THE CREATED THE WORLD THROUGH CATACLYSMIC DESTRUCTION AND RENEWAL. THEY HAVE MANY ELABORATE MYTHS. THE CREATOR'S SON IS AN EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN WHOSE BODY IS OF ALL THINGS. HE GAVE SACRED KNOWLEDGE TO THEIR WORLD. HAS 10 TIERS OF HEAVEN, EARTH, AND BELOW THE EARTH. THESE TALES HAVE BEEN TOLD FOR MILLENIA. CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES HAVE MODIFIED THEIR BELIEFS AND REINFORCED THEIRS.

TRADITIONALLY SHAMANS WERE KEY TO FIGURES IN IN BANIVA CULTURE. THEY ARE HIERARCHICALLY DIFFERENT BY LEVELS OF KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITY. THERE IS A CLASS SPECIALISTS SPELL OWNERS WHO PERFORM SPELLS AND BLOWING AT RITES OF PASSAGE. THE THIRD SPECIAAL FIGURE IS A RITUAL DANCER WHO LEADS CEREMONIAL DANCES AND SONGS IN VARIOUS FESTIVITIES. ELDERS PERFORM SOME DANCE LINES AND THEY HAVE SONGS.

CEREMONIAL SINGING, TELLIING OF STORIES, BODY PAINTING, PLAYING INSTRUMENTS AND IN PREHISTORIC TIMES PETROGLYPH MAKING WERE IMPORTANT ART FORMS. TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IS BASED ON HERBAL REMEDIES. BY SHAMANS. AND SPELL OWNERS. SOME MISSIONARIES HAVE INSISTED ON USING TRADITIONAL MEDICINE.

SERIOUS ILLNESS AND DEATH ARE THOUGHT OF AS A RESULT OF SORCERY OR RITUAL RESTRICTIONS. AT DEATH TWO PARTS OF A PERSON'S SOUL IS SEPARATE., THE COLLECTIVE SOULS BECOMES INTEGRAQTED TO ANCESTRAL HOUSEES OF ANIMAL SOULS. THE HUMAN BODY PASSES THROUGH A DARK NETHER WORLD. AND IS PURIFIED BY FIRE AND JOURNEYS TO THE TO THE CELESTIAL PARADISE OF THE CREATOR. SIMILAR RITES OCCUR WITH ANIMALS AND BIRD SPECIES.

EVERY CULTURE.COM

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

AKAIWAIO INDIANS

AKAWAIO INDIANS LIVE IN ALONG THE GUIANA - VENEZUELA BORDER. KAPON OR PEOPLE IS THE NAME THEY CALL THEMSELVES. THERE LIVES IN THE UPPER BASIN MAZUNI RIVER, THE ESSINUIBO TRIBUTARY RISING IN THE PAKARAIMA MTS. THEY SHARE VILLAGES WITH THE PEMON IN VENEZUELA. THERE ARE ABOUT 6000 FOLKS HERE. THEIR POPULATION HAS SINCE INCREASED.

THEY TRADED FROM BERBREE. IN 1669 THE AKAWAIO WERE ONE OF THE GREAT NATIONS WHO LIVED IN THE UPLANDS OF THE GIANA. THEY POLICED THE FOREST . IN MID 18TH CENTURY SPANISH SETTLED IN MISSIONS. THE AKAIWAIO VISITED THE LOWLANDS AND WERE EMPLOYED AS GUIDES, HUNTERS, AND FOREST WORKERS AND WOOD CUTTERS. IN 1946 AN UPPER MAZARUNI RIVER AND GOVERNMENT STATION WERE CREATED. THIS CHANGED THE AKAIWAIO AUTONOMY AND EXPERIENCED GREAT CHANGES. THEIR NEIGHBORS THE PEMON HAVE ALSO RAIDED AND TRADED AND INTERMARRIED. THE CARIBS WERE TRADITIONAL ENEMIES.

THE AKAIWAIO WERE SLASH AND BURN CULTIVATORS. THEY MADE A CASAVA BREAD FROM BITTER MANIOC. THEY MAKE MANY LOW ALCOHOL DRINKS. THEY GROW BANANAS, SUGAR, CANE, SWEET POTATOES, YAMS,TARO GOURDS, ETC. THEY HUNT DEER , PECCARIES, AGOUTIS, TAPIR AND BIRDS. THEY USE FISH POISON AND BASKET TRAPS FOR FISHING. FROM THE 60'S GOLD AND MINING WAS FULL TIME. MINING HAS RESULTED IN SOME NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF VILLAGE LIFE.

THEY TRAVEL TO THE COST TO WORK AND BARTER FOR METAL TOOLS, UTENSILS, CLOTH, BEADS, SALT AND OTHER GOODS. THEY BROUGHT THEIR GOODS TO THEM.

WORK IS SEXUALLY ORIENTED . THE MEN HUNT, FISH, DO TRADING. WOMEN GET FIRE WOOD, CARE FOR HOMES, AND CHILDREN. MEN MAKE BASKETS ARE WOOD WORKERS. MEMBERS OF THE VILLAGE VACATE LAND BETWEEN VILLAGES THAT ARE USED FOR LONG DISTANCE HUNTING AND GATHERING TO ENSURE THAT THE CONFLICTING CLAIMS ARE RARE. THERE IS AN ACUTE AWARENESS THAT THEY HAVE LEGAL TITLE TO COMMUNAL LANDS. THE AKAIWAIO BELIEVE THE RESOURCES OF THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS SHOULD BE EXPLOITED ONLY BY THEM.

THEY BELIEVE THAT ALL MATERIAL, BODIES, ARE POSSESSED BY SUN'S RADIANT LIGHT WHICH ENDUES THEM BY VITALITY WELL BEING, AND KNOWLEDGE. THERE ARE FIGURES WHO FIGURE IN SHAMANIC SEANCES AND DWELL PRIVATE OWNED STONES. THEY OFFER TOBACCO, FOOD, OR BEVERAGES TO STONES, SO THAT A RESOURCE WILL BE INCREASED.

THEIR SHAMANS TREAT THE AKAIWAIO OF THE UNIVERSE DURING NIGHT SEANCES. THEY HALLUCINATE THROUGH DIETING AND USE TOBACCO. SHAMANS POSSESS THEIR OWN VITAL FORCE TO OWN VITAL FORCE TO AKWA. THEY HEAR GOD AND RECEIVE SONGS, PRAYERS, AND INJECTIONS THAT WILL STRENGTHEN LIFE ON EARTH. THEY SING SONGS AND D ANCE FESTIVALS ASSOCIATED WITH ANIMALS ASSOCIATED WITH ANIMALS, FISH AND FOREST AND FRUITS. THEY SING AND DANCE TO INCREASE GOODNESS, AND WELL BEING FOR ALL OF EARTH. THEIR SHAMAN CURE SICKNESS AND MISFORTUNE. IT IS ALSO A COMMENTARY ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. FAMILIES HAVE CEREMONIES SUCH AS GIRLS AND BOYS RITES TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL ECONOMIES.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SONGS CONVEY KNOWLEDGE AND POWER. THEY ARE RYTHMIC WITH POEMS. SOME MEN MAKE BASKETRY. THE CRAFTS ARE DISAPPEARING. IF SICKNESS OCCURS THEY USE PLANT REMEDIES WITH SHAMANIC SEANCES.THEY BELIEVE IN SORCERY WHEN SUDDEN DEATH OCCURS. THEY BELIEVE IN WHEN SUDDEN DEQATH OCCURS. THEY BELIEVE AFTER DEATH SOME REENTER THE COSMOS, AND THEN RESIDES IN HEAVEN IN HAPPINESS.

NATIVE-CULTURE.COM

TOBA INDIANS IN PARAGUAY

TOBA ARE AN ETHNIC GROUP WHO LIVE IN GRAN CHACO REGION. THERE ARE 47,000 TOBAS IN ARGENTINA AREA. THEIR NAME MEANS PEOPLE . THEY CUT THEIR HAIR SHORT IN THE FRONT OF THE HEAD THEY CUT THEIR HAIR SHORT, IN THE FRONT OF THE HEAD AS A SIGNAL OF MOURNING. THE CHACO REGION IN THE NORTH OF PARAGUAY WAS FORMERLY FORESTS.THEY GOT HORSES AFTER SPANISH CAME HERE. THEY RESISTED COLONIAL ENCROACHMENT AND MISSIONS.

IN 1880'S THE GOVERNMENT BEGAN A CAMP IN TO DEFEAT BEGAN A CAMPAIGN TO DEFEAT THE LAST ORGANIZED ATTEMPTS TO DEFEND TABALAND. THEY HAD QUEBRACHO TREE THAT WAS USED FOR ITS TANNIN AND LUMBER. ONCE THEY HAD CUT THESE TREES THE ECOSYSTEM BECAME UNBALANCED. THE PRIVATE OWNERS GREW COTTON
AND THEY EMPLOYED SEASONAL LABORERS.

THEN IN 1924 200 TOBAS WERE MASSACRED BY ARGENTINA POLICE. IN 1982 THE REGION SUFFERED FLOODS AND RUINED CROPS. IN 1990'S THEY IMPORTED MECHANISMS THAT HARVESTED
FRUITS AND LEFT FOLKS JOBLESS. THE MAJORITY (10,000) MIGRATED TO ROSARIO, IN THE SOUTH. THEY FOUND FAMILY TIES, JOBS, GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE AND AN URBAN LIFE. THAT IS DIFFICULT TO BECOME ACCULTURATED TO.

THEIR IS LANGUAGE IS PART OF GUAICU LANGUAGE GROUP. IT HAS ABOUT 60,000 SPEAKERS, WITH 20,000 LIVING IN ARGENTINA.

THEY HAVE TWO PEACE POLES WITH THE MESSAGE "MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH" WRITTEN IN THE TOBA LANGUAGER AND IN GUARANI, AS WELL AS SPANISH AND ITALIAN. IT IS A SAMPLE OF THE OF THE LOCAL AND EUROPEAN CULTURES WHO SHAPED THIS COUNTRY.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

LENGUA INDIANS IN PARAGUAY

THE LENGUA LIVE 1000 MILES TO THE SOUTH OF AMAZON RIVER NEAR GRAN CHACO. THESE INDIANS LY 1000 MILES SOUTH OF THE AMAZON RIVER. THE GRAND CHACO WHICH MEANS "HUNTING GROUND". IT IS A VAST HUNTING PLAIN IN THE CENTER OF SOUTH AMERICA. DESPITE THIS HARSH CLIMATE THE LINGUA CONTINUE TO LIVE HERE. TATTOOING HAS BEEN REPLACED BY LESS PAINFUL METHODS. THEY PAINT THEIR BODY AS WELL. IT HAD MAGICAL IMPLICATIONS. IN THE PAST AND ALL INDIGENOUS GROUPS PRACTICED IT . WOMEN HAD MORE OF THEM. GIRLS WERE TATTOED ON THEIR FOREHEAD AT 5 YEARS OLD. THEN AS TIME WENT BY THEY RECEIVED ADDITIONAL CIRCLES, CROSSES,HALF MOONS,AND LINES. THEIR ARTISTS WERE OLD WOMEN. THEY TRACED THE DESIGN WITH CHARCOAL. THEY PUNCTURED THE SKIN WITH A BUNDLE OF CACTUS OR A SINGLE BONE AWL. THEN BLOOD RAN DOWN THE FACE. IN 1760 A JESUIT MISSIONARY PROVIDED A RARE ACCOUNT OF A NEW EXTINCT RITUAL. IN THE PAST DURING THE GIRLS DAYS OF TATTOOING SHE COULD NOT EAT MEAT, FISH OR OTHER FOOD. THEY ATE ONLY COOLING FRUIT THAT COOLS THE BLOOD. APPARENTELY TATTOOING HAD A RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE. ASH OR CHARCOAL WAS A MEANS OF PURIFICATION.

WHEN A LENGUA VILLAGE WAS THREATENED WITH AN EPEDEMIC., CHACO PEOPLE PERFORMED CEREMONIES AIMED AT CURBING SUPERNATURAL ENTITIES. THAT WERE RESPONSIBLE. THEIR CEREMONIES WERE AN INVOLVEMENT OF DANCE DRUMMING, CHANTS, AND BODY PAINT THAT REPELLS SUPERNATURAL ELEMENTS. MENSTRUAL BLOOD WAS CONSIDERED A MALEVOLENT SPIRIT. IT WAS BELIEVED THAT IT WAS AWAKENED HER SEXUAL DESIRE AND IT WAS PARTICULARLY ENTICING TO EVIL SPIRITS. THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF HER SERIES OF LIFE STAGES, FOR EXAMPLE CHILDBIRTH, MENSES,ETC. TATTOOING WAS DONE TO PURIFY HER EVIL DURING FUTURE YEARS.

DURING INITIATIONS THE CEREMONIALFASTING COOLED THEIR BLOOD. ALL OF THE TRIBE HAD FOOD RESTRICTIONS. THE MEAT OF A PREDATORY ANIMAL WAS A RESTRICTION. FOR THE CHACOAN PEOPLE SHARED THIS CONDITION.

MANY WOMEN HAD THE SAME SYMBOLS BUT PAINTED IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THEIR BODY.THE ARTISTS SALIVA WAS A PURIFACTORY SUBSTANCE TO REPEL EVIL SPIRITS. CARBON BASED SUBSTANCES WERE USED AS TATTOO PIGMENT. THE TATTOE HAD AN OVERALL MAGICAL POWER. IN THE END IT MEANS THAT THERE IS MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG














NATIVELANGUAGE.ORG

GUARANI INDIANS

THE GUARANI SPEAK TUPEAN LANGUAGE IN PARAGUAY.THIS LANGUAGE IS SPOKEN BY A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN PARAGUAY AND SOME PARTS OF ARGENTINA. IT IS AN ELEGANT LANGUAGE.

GUARANI BECAME A WRITTEN LANGUAGE RECENTLY. THEY HAVE ABOUT 260,000 INDIANS! THEIR POPULATION WAS REDUCED BY EUROPEAN BY EUROPEANS. THEIR LANGUAGE WAS ONCE LOOKED DOWN UPON BY THE UPPER CLASS,BUT IT IS NOW REGARDED AS PRIDED. THEIR CHILDREN LEARN GUARANI FROM SCHOOL AND THEIR FRIENDS.

GURANI WAS APPLIED BY JESUITS MISSIONARIES WHO REFER TO THE NATIVES WHO CONVERTED THEM TO CHRISTIANS. CAYUA ARE THOSE WHO REFUSED IT. THE GUARANI IS GIVEN BY THE SPANISH AS WARRIORS.

THEIR EARLY HISTORY IS NOT WELL KNOWN. THEY WERE NOMADIC. THEIR VILLAGES HAD 10 TO 15 FAMILIES . THEIR POPULATION HAD ABOUT 400,000 WHEN EUROPEANS CAME. THEY ATE MANIOC, MAIZE, AND WILD GAME. THEIR MYTHOLOGY IS STILL WIDESPREAD. THEY HAVE FOLKLOREAND NUMEROUS MYTHS. THE CREATION AND DESTRUCTION OF ALL THINGS IS NAMANDU - THE TRUE FATHER. THERE IS A WEREWOLF, A HUMMINGBIRD, GLOW WORMS, BUTTERFLIES, A WOMAN, IRUPE, WHO TURNED INTO A GIANTLILY BECAUSE SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE MOON.

ANOTHER MYTH TELLS OF AN OLD MAN WHO SNATCHES CHILDREN AND WRAPS THEM IN CLIMBING PANTS OR DROWNS THEM. THE FIRST GOVERNORE OF THE SPANISH TERRITORY OF GUAYRA INITIATED ENSLAVEMENT OF THE NATIVES. THE TOWN OF SLAVE TRADE WAS SAO PAULE AND INDIANS WERE SOLD. IT WAS A REFUGE FOR CRIMINALS TOO. THE TRIBES ONLY HAD BOWS AND ARROWS TO OPPOSE SLAVE TRADERS. THEY ATTACKED WHOLE MISSIONS WHO WERE GATHERED FOR MASS. IN THE MID 1600'S A FATHER OF THE MISSION BOUGHT 10,000 CATTLE CONVERTED THE NATIVES TO STOCK RAISERS. THE MISSIONS WERE REESTABLISHED. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION THE MISSION ARMY WITH GUNS DEFEATED THE SPANISH COLONY. BY 1734 SMALLPOX KILLED 30,000 GUARENI.

TODAY THEY STILL PERSIST. AND THEY LIKE ARE DESCENDANTS OF MISSION EXILES AND THEY SPEAK GUARANI LANGUAGE.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

SPRING EQUINOX

THIS YEAR'S SPRING EQUINOX IS DUE MARCH 20TH. IT OCCURS TWICE A YEAR WHEN THE TILT OF THE EARTH'S AXIS IS INCLINED NEITHER AWAY FROM NOR TOWARDS THE SUN. THE CENTER OF THE SUN ISIS IN THE SAME PLAN AS THE EARTH'S EQUATOR. NIGHT AND DAY HAVE THE SAME LENGTH OF TIME, THE EQUINOX HAS BEEN SINCE 45 B.C. BY JULIUS CEASAR WHEN HE MADE HIS CALENDAR. FESTIVALS FOR EQUINOX AND SOLSTICES (2 PER YEAR) ARE CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

WIKIPEDIA.COM

OUR TOWN PLAY

I RECENTLY SAW A PLAY CALLED OUR TOWN AT THE SRJC. IT IS AN UNCONVENTIONAL PLAY WRITTEN BY JOHN SHILLING WRITTEN IN THE 1930'S. IT IS AN UNCONVENTIONAL PLAY AND HAS NO SCENERY EXCEPT FOR TABLES AND CHAIRS AND LADDERS. THEIR IS A STAGE DIRECTOR WHO SUPERVISES THE NARRATOR. THE PLAY IS IMPROVISED, MEANING THE ACTORS USE NO OBJECTS. THIS FORCES THE AUDIENCE TO FOCUS ON THE ACTORS.

ACT ONE IS THE DAILY LIFE OF A 2000 PERSON TOWN OF GROVER'S CORNER'S, NEW HAMPSHIRE. THE STAGE MANAGER POINTS OUT WHAT IS IN OUR TOWN - STORES, THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, THE HOUSES OF THE CHARACTERS AND THEIR GARDENS, THE PAPER PUBLISHER, AND THE PAPER DELIVERY BOY. THERE'S A TRAIN IN TOWN. IN ONE HOUSEHOLD THE MOM SAYS FORGET THE HOMEWORK AND EAT HEALTHY IN THE MORNING.

AFTER THE CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL THE TWO MOMS EXCHANGE THEIR STORIES. THE DOCTOR AND HIS WIFE HAVE SOME DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT THEIR DESIRES TO TRAVEL. ONE MAN COMES TO STAGE AND DISCUSSES THE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL MAKEUP OF OUR TOWN. THERE ARE NO CARES HERE YET.

ACT II - LOVE AND MARRIAGE
EMILY AND GEORGE WHO WERE HS SWEETHEARTS DECIDE TO MARRY. GEORGE DECIDES NOT TO MARRY GO TO COLLEGE.. THEY HAVE A A NERVOUS WEDDING

ACT III - DEATH

THREE YEARS PASS AND NOW FORD CARS ARE IN TOWNIN 1913. THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PASSED ON ARE SITTING ON STAGE BEHIND A GREY SEE THROUGH SCREEN. IT IS RAINNG AND THE UNDERTAKER ENTERS THE STAGETO PROCEED WITH EMILY'S FUNERAL SHE DIED AFTER THE SECOND CHILD! HER COUSIN CAME TO THE FUNERAL. THE DEAD PEOPLE SPEAK TO EACH OTHER AND TO EMILY. SHE SAYS LIVING PEOPLE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TROUBLED PEOPLE ARE. SHE WISHES TO RETURN TO HOME ON A HAPPY DAY - HER BIRTHDAY. SHE GOES HOME AND IT IS 14 YEARS AGO AND HER MOM LOOKS MUCH YOUNGER. HER MOM TELLS EMILY FINALLY SAYS SHE CAN'T GO ON. SHE DECIDES TO RETURN TO THE CEMETERY. SHE SAYS TO HER MOTHER IN LAW "THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND DO THEY?" "NO THEY DON'T". THE PLAY ENDS.

CUNNINGSTUDYGUIDES.COM

MAKING QUILTS FOR THE HOMELESS

SEVERAL WEEKENDS AGO I MADE QUILTS FOR THE HOMELESS AT CHURCH. WE STARTED WITH VARIOUS MATERIALS AND SOME QUILTS THAT WERE JUST STARTED.SOME FOLKS HAD NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE SO I MET SOME NEW FOLKS. SOME QUILTS NEEDED TO HAVE YARN SEWN, AND OTHERS NEEDED TO BE SEWED AROUND THEIR BORDERS.OTHERS NEEDED THE INNER BATTING CUT AND PINNED. ABOUT 8 FOLKS SHOWED UP FOR 3 HOURS. MANY FOLKS WERE NEW AT THE CHURCH AS WELL. THE QUILTS BRIGHTEN THE PEOPLES LIVES WHO RECEIVE THEM AND THEY KNOW SOMEONE CARES FOR THEM.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

CHAMASOCO INDIANS IN PARAGUAY

THEIR NAME XAMACOCO WAS USED IN THE 1700'S. THEIR NAME XAMACOCO WAS USED IN THE 1970'S. THEIR ANCESTORS ARE UNKNOWN. THEY PREFER TO BE CALLED ISHIR. THE NORTHEAST CHACO BOREAL, AN ARID ZONE. THEY WENT TO RIO PARAGUAY RIVER.. THEY THEY SPEAK ZAMUCO LANGUAGE. AS A CONSEQUENCE POLITICAL HOSTILITY, FOUR DIALECTS WERE SPOKEN. IN 1970 ABOUT 800 PERSONS WERE IN THIS TRIBE. IN THE 1930'S THE POSSIBILITY HAD ABOUT 2000 FOLKS.

IN ECONOMIC TERMS THEY ARE PRIMITIVE HUNTERS AND GATHERERS, SIMILAR TO THE GE OF EASTERN BRAZIL. BY 1900'S THE EUROPEANS CAME HERE! THEY WAGED WAR WITH NEIGHBORS TO CAPTURE SLAVES AND THEY ACCEPTED HIERARCHICAL STRATIFICATION. THE ANGLOS PUT THEM TO WORK IN THE LUMBER INDUSTRY. IN 1955 THE NORTHWEST TRIBES MISSION ENDED THE BOGS INITIATION.

PRIOR TO ANGLOS THE TEMPERATURE CAMPS OR AIHYUT, OF SINGLE FAMILY OR MULTIPLE FAMILY. THE DUT WAS FOR 50 OR 60 PEOPLE. AND A DIET WAS BUILT FOR 500 PEOPLE. THEY BUILT HUTS OF STRAW MATS IN A CIRCLE AROUND A PLAZA.

THE NEW TRIBES ADOPTED A RECTANGULAR VILLAGE PLAN WITH STREETS AT RIGHT ANGLES. THEY HAD SADDLE ROOFS WITH PALM STEMS.

THEY WERE HUNTERS AND GATHERERS PRIMARY THEY CAUGHT EELS AND OTHER FISH. THEY HAD VERY STRICT RULES RE THEIR CONSUMPTION AND QUALITY OF THEIR FOODS DEPENDING UPON SEX AND AGE. TABOOS WERE PRESENT. MANY CHAMACOCO ARE NEW FARMERS AND BREED DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND LIVESTOCK. THEY MAKE THEIR FOR THE TOURIST TRADE. THEY BARTER SOME FOOD AND BUY SOME THINGS FOR WELFARE WELFARE ORIENTATION AGENCIES. THEY MAKE PRIMITIVE POTTERY AND GATHER STICKS AND WOODS. BAGS ARE MADE OF LEATHER. THEY MAKE BEAUTIFUL RITUAL ADORNMENTS OF BIRD FEATHERS. WOMEN WERE GATHERERS AND COLLECTED TURTLES! THEY PROCESSED BROMELIA FIBER INTO CLOTH. THEY MAKE CRAFTS. MEN WERE HUNTERS AND DID THE FARMING.

THEIR SUBGROUPS HAVE CHIEFS AND THEY HAVE FREQUENT WARS. TODAY THEY OWN SMALL RESERVES. ONE RESERVE IS 21,000 HA. EVERY NATURAL AND CULTURAL PHENOMENA HAS ITS OWN MEANING EXPLAINING A SPECIAL TRUTH OR PARALLEL MYTHS THE GENERAL SCHEME OF THE TALES CONSISTS OF TRANSFORMATION OF AN ANCESTOR F HUMAN. THEIR ORIGIN MYTHS HAVE A FIXED STRUCTURE OF EPISODES FOLLOWED BY 1 OR SEVERAL THERAPY SONGS.

MYTHS AND SONGS HAVE A A DAMAGING EFFECT IF USED OUTSIDE THERE CENTER OF AN ILLNESS. THE AYOREO WORLD IS OMNIPRESENT AND HAS AN ESSESSENTIALLY NEGATIVE CHARACTER. THERE IS A FEAR OF MALEVOLENT POWER OF THE TRIBE BASED ON CURSED. THEIR SHAMAN PRACTICES THE THERAPY MYTHS. THEY HAVE RITUALSTO PROPITIATE RAIN AND PERFORM RITES. THEIR SOLE CEREMONY IS RELATED TO THEIR ANNUAL CYCLE.

THEY MAKE FEW ARTS. THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES ARE CARRIED OUT BY THE ORDINARY INDIVIDUAL. THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES ARE CARRIED OUT BY DAIHSNAI. CURING IS DONE THROUGH CHANTS SONGS THAT CURE ILLNESS.IF THEY ARE SUFFERING FROM EATING SOMETHING THE SHAMAN OR SINGER IS AN INTERMEDIARY.

THEY BELIEVE WHEN SOMEONE IS DEAD THEY GO ON A VOYAGE TO THE UNDERWORLD. THE SOUL IS RECEIVED BY A DECEASED MEMBER OF HIS EXTENDED FAMILY. USUALLY THIS IS A GOOD REUNION.

EVERYCULTURE.COM

AYOREO INDIANS IN PARAGUAY

AYOREO INDIANS CALL THEMSELVES THE AYOREODE, OR BEINGS OF HUMAN APPEARANCE. NON AYOREO ARE CALLED MENEOGONE. NONAYOREO ARE CALLED MENENEGONE. A DIFFERENT DENOMINATION IS GIVEN NEO AMARICES WHO DO THINGS THAT MAKE NO SENSE.

THEY ARE LOCATED IN PARAGUAY AND BOLIVIA. AYOREO LAND HAS FEW NATURAL ROUTES, SPRINGS, OR RIVERS. OF MOST IMPORTANCE FOR THE LIFE IS THE SWAMPLAND OF IZOZOG. THESE HYDRIC DEPOSITS DETERMINE WHERE THEIR PERMANENT CAMPS ARE. THEY LIVE IN THE DESERT BY USING WATER FROM A TUBER CALLED CIPOI. THEY HAVE A DRY RAINY SEASON AND THEY HAVE VARIOUS WINDS. THEY SPEAK ZANUCO. 2500 AYORU LIVE IN 333,000 SQ. KM. THEY DO NOT SUFFER FROM HUNGER OR WANT.

THESE FOLKS ARE HARD WORKING . THEIR PERIODS ARE DIVIDED BY ASTRONOMICAL ORDER. EAPI IS FOREST OR FORBIDDEN WORD. AND EAPI -WOMI IS FREE WORLD. THEY CHANGE BETWEEN PERIODS. FESTIVALS ARE MARKED BY A CALL TO A BIRD. THEIR HARVEST BEGINS IN SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER. THEN THEY SOW SEEDS UP TO APRIL. THEY HAVE RAINS IN JULY TO AUGUST.

DURING THE MONTHS WHEN THEY LIVE LIKE NOMADS THE LIVE MAINLY FROM GATHERING., HUNTING, AND AGRICULTURAL RESERVES LEFT OVER FROM PREVIOUS HARVESTS. AFTER THEIR FESTIVAL THEY BUILD A SEMIPERMANENT VILLAGE UNTIL APRIL. THEY FOLLOW AN ANNUAL LIFE CYCLE. GATHERING WILD FOODS IS EVEN GREATER THAN PLANTING. ABOUT 30 PLANT SPECIES ARE EATEN. THEY EAT ROOTS AND TUBERS AND SEEDS. FROM PALMS HEY EXTRACT FRUITS. THEY HUNT TAPIR, JAGUARS, MONKEYS, OCELOTS, AND OTTERS FOR HIDES.

THEY USE A DIGGING STICK FOR THEIR AGRICULTURAL AND PLANT MAIZE, BEANS, GOURDS AND SQUASH , POTATOES AND TOBACCO. THEY ARE HARVESTED ONCE A YEAR. FISHING IS PRACTICED OCCASSIONALLY. THEY CATCH 10 SPECIES OF FISH WITH THEIR HANDS OR A BASKET.
THEY MADE A VARIETY OF WEAPONS, SWORDS, AND CLUBS. THEY ALSO MAKE WOODEN SPATULAS.. CERAMIC POTS, CALABASH RECEPTICALS, AXES, OF IRON AND GRATORS FROM RODENTS TEETH, MORTARS MADE OF HARDWARE, AND CARRYING BAGS OF CARAGUATA FIBRE AND CORDAGE. THEY COLLECT HONEY AND HAVE VARIOUS BAGS. THEY HAVE MADE PIPES AND IMPORTED SCISSORS,NOW TO CUT HAIR. THEY WEAR LITTLE CLOTHING.

MEN USSUALLY DO THE AGRICULTUREWORK, HUNT, AND FISH. THOSE TASKS INVOLVE WOOD, STONE, AND IRON. THEY MAKE PIPES, AND CLEAR THE TRERES FOR GARDENS.

THE WOMEN HUNT TURTLES AND ARMADILLOS. THE WOMEN HOWEVER ALSO CORD, PLAIT, SEW. DO FOOD PREP, AND MAKE POTTERY. MEN PREPARE THEIR FOOD IF THEY ARE ALONE IN THE FOREST. THE WOMEN GATHER PLANTS WHICH IS STRENUOUS WORK THERE. MEN ALSO COLLECT WILD ROOTS. LAND OWNERSHIP IS OF PARTICULARLY GOOD AND IS DETERMINED IN THE FIRST PLACE AND IS DETERMINED BY THE WORK SOMEONE HAS DONE.

THEIR MARRIAGE TAKES PLACE AFTER ADOLESCENCE AND THIS IS NOT A SPECIAL CEREMONY. THE LIFE CYCLE IMPLIES SEVERAL AND ARE STREGTHENED BY SONGS. THEIR LIFE IS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE AGAINST DIVERSITY AND ILLNESS. OLDER PEOPLE OFTEN COMMIT SUICIDE.

EVERY NATURAL AND CULTURAL PHENOMENON IS EXPLAINED BY A SPECIAL MYTH. THEIR TALES CONSIST OF THEIR TRANSFORMATION OF AN ANCESTOR OF HUMAN OR HUMANOID IS IN AN ACTUAL LIVING BEING THROUGH THE INTERVENTION OF DUPADE THE SUN. ORIGIN MYTHS ARE FOLLOWED BY SEVERAL THERAPEUTIC SONGS. THE COMPLEX OF MYTHS AND SONGS IS GIVEN THE NAME KUCADE OF TRACING THE RETURN OF ALL THINGS. THE AYOREO MYTHS ARE IN 6 GROUPS. THEIR MYTHS EXPLAIN THE WORLD AS VARIOUS TIERS OR LEVELS.

IN THEIR WORLD POWER IS OMNI-PRESENT AND IS NEGATIVE CHARACTER. IN AYOREO'S WORLD THE MOST POWERFUL AND MALEFICIENT POWER. THEY ARE DANGEROUS AND ARE MORE POWERFUL. AN ANCESTRAL LIVING BIRD IS THE CORE OF AYOREO'S WORLD. THEY FEAR IT AND IT IS CHARGED WITH NEGATIVITY. ASOHANA IS THEIR DIVINITY WITH AN ORGANIZED CULTURE. ASOHONA HAS POWER TO DO HARM AND IS TRANFERRED TO THE COSMIC PLANE. IN THIS WORLD OF FEAR AND DEATH THEY HAD CURSES.

THE SHAMAN AND THE WISE MAN KNOWS MYTHS AND THERAPEUTIC SONGS AND ARE RELIGIOUS PRACTIONERS. tHEY HAVE A RITUAL TO ENGAGE IN RAIN. A CEREMONY IS HELD BY THE AYORE AS A FESTIVAL OF ASOHSNA, AN ANNUAL CYCLE.

THEIR DAIHSNAI ARE THEIR CHANTAS WHO USE THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES TO HEAL. THE SHAMAN FUNCTIONS AS AN INTERMEDIARY VEHICLE. THEYY BELIEVE A PERSON HAS SKIN, REASON AND A SOUL. THEY BELIEVE THAT AFTER DEATH PEOPLE LIVE IN AN UNDERWORLD.

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