WARAO INDIANS GUYANA

THE WARAO HAVE 20,000 FOLKS IN A LAND CALLED RAPOSA SERRA DO SOL. IT IS AN ESPECIALLY BEAUTIFUL REGION IN THE MOUNTAINS. THEY HAVE A TROPICAL FOREST, SAVANNAH RIVER, WATERFALL. THEIR TERRITORY IS ABOUT 1.7 MILLION HECTARS. THE DIAL HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH OUTSIDERS FOR 200 YEARS. THEY MAINTAIN THEIR LAND AND CUSTOMS. MANY VILLAGES OWN EDUCATIONAL AND HEALTH PROJECTS TO DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS AND RUN THEIR PROJECTS.

OVER THREE DECADES OF OVER 20 INDIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED DURING THEIR TIRELESS STRUGGLE TO RECLAIM THEIR STRUGGLE TO KEEP ANCESTORAL LAND. SOME RICE FARMERS SUPPORTED BY THE POLITITIANS USED VIOLENT METHODS TO GET THEM TO LEAVE.

IN MARCH 2009 A LAND MARK RULING THE INDIANS RIGHTS TO THEIR LAND SAYING THAT ITS SIZE AND BORDERS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED . NOW THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO FISH IN THEIR RIVERS WITHOUT BEING SHOT AT.

THESE INDIANS LIVE ON THE ORINOCO RIVER DELTA IN HUTS ON STLTS WITH THATCHED ROOFS AND NO WALLS . THEY HAVE A FIRE PIT OF CLAY IN THE CENTER OF THE HOUSE AND SLEEP IN HAMMOCKS. THEY ONLY TRAVEL BY FOOT OR DUG OUT CANOE. THEIR NAME MEANS BOAT PEOPLE.

THEIR ORIGIN MYTH IS AS FOLLOWS. THE WAREO BELIEVE IN ONE MAN FIRST LIVED IN THE SKY WITH ANIMALS AND BIRDS. ONE DAY A HUNTER SHOT A BIRD AND THE ARROW PIERCED THE GROUND AND MADE A HOLE THERE.. HE LOOKED DOWN THE HOLE A RICH LAND THERE WITH MUCH GAME. HE ATTACHED A ROPE TO TO A TREE TREE AND CLIMBED DOWN THE LOWER EARTH. THERE HE WAS JOINED BY HIS FRIEND WHO ABANDONED THE SKY WORLD AND LIVED PERMANENTLY ON THE EARTH, THEY ARE FINE BASKETMAKERS WITH LIDS AND A CARRYING STRAP. THEY MAKE COILED BASKETS. ALL OF THE FAMILY CONTRIBUTES TO THE WORK ON THE BASKETS. THEY DYE REEDS AND CHILDREN SORT REEDS AND ARE TRAINED TO WEAVE.

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