ABOUT 3000 YEKUANA LIVE IN THE GUANA HIGHLANDS. THEIR TERRITORY HAS FIVE RIVERS AND IS MOSTLY A TROPICAL FOREST. THEIR 3 SUBGROUPS CAN BE DISTINGUISHED BY THEIR LOCATIONS AND DIALECTS OF THE CARIBBEAN LANGUAGE.
BY 1750 THEY THEY MET THEY MET THE SPANIARDS AND ARE IN AN INACCESSIBLE TERRITORY. THEY PREFER TO BUILD SETTLEMENTS ALONG RIVERS IN LOWER. THEY REBELLED AGAINST EXPLOITATIONS BY CHRISTIAN WHITES AND ONLY HAD SPORADIC TRADE WITH THEM. THEY BUILD A LARGE COMMUNAL ROUND HOUSE FOR ALL RESIDENTS. THEY HAVE WORKSHEETS WITH ROOFS OF PALM THATCH WHERE VISITORS CAN WATCH HOW THEY MAKE THEIR CRAFTS. THE INTERIOR IS OF THE COMMUNAL HOUSE HAS A CENTER ROOM FOR CEREMONIAL AND RITUAL OCCASIONS. MEN TALK, EAT, AND WORK HERE AND SHAMANS SIT ON THE BENCHES. WOMEN DON'T ENTER IT.
THE YEKUANA BUILD THE EXTERIOR WITH WATTLE AND DAUB. BARK PANELS SEPARATE AN EXTENDED FAMILY.
THEIR SUBSISTENCE IS BASED ON SHIFTING AGRICULTURE. MANIOC IS THE STAPLE CROP, TARO, YAMS, MAIZE, BANANAS, SQUASH, SWEET POTATOES, PEPPERS, , SUGAR CANE, PINEAPPLES, PAPAYAS AND TOBACCO. THEY ALSO GROW COTTON AND CALABASH. TREES. HUNTING IS A COMMUNAL DRIVE AND IS IMPORTANT. THEY HUNT TAPIR , DEER, PECCARIES, 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 FOLKS WORE LOIN CLOTHES. WOMEN WEAR SMALL APRONS WITH GLASS BEADS. MEN INSERT ARROW REEDS WITH FEATHERS IN THEIR EAR LOBES. THEY COULD THEIR HAIR HAIR SHORT AND PAINT THEIR BODIES BLUE. THEY ALSO HUNT AND WEAVE BASKETRY AND MAKE HAMMOCKS AND DUGOUT CANOES, AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS . WOMEN SPIN COTTON, HARVEST, GARDEN, BEADED GLASS APRONS. THEY SPEND TIME IN PROCESSING FOOD. OLD WOMEN MAY BE SEEN MAKING POTTERY. THEIR SOCIETY IS BASED ON VILLAGES OF EXTENDED FAMILY.
THEIR SOCIETY IS SIMILAR TO HAWAIIANS AND IROQUOIS SYSTEMS. MARRIAGE BETWEEN CROSS COUSINS IS PREFERRED. BOTH SEXES WENT THROUGH INITIATION CEREMONIES. THE YIKUANA COSMOLOGY IS COMPLEX . THEY HAVE 3 LEVELS OF HEAVEN , EARTH, AND THE UNDERWORLD. EACH STRATUM REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT COSMOLOGICAL STATION. THE UPPER MOST REGION IS INHABITED BY WANADI, THEIR SUPREME BEING IS THE SON OF THE SUN.
SHAMANS RECEIVED THEIR CURING ITEMS FROM HIM AND CONFRONTILLNESSES CAUSED BY SPIRIT INTRUSION . THEY CHANT, RATTLE AND SMOKE TOBACCO, MASSAGE AND BLOW AND SUCK ILLNESS OUT OF THE PATIENT. THEIR DEAD ARE BURIED IN A CANOE AWAY FROM THE VILLAGE. IF THEY DIE FROM AN EPIDEMIC THEY ARE BURIED INSIDE A HOUSE THAT IS BURNED. IN RECENT TIMES THEIR CULTURE IS BEING INFLUENCED BY THE MISSIONARIES.
EVERYCULTURE.COM
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