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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