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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