Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau

Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau
Jupaú
Total population
152[1] (November 2023)
Regions with significant populations
 Brazil ( Rondônia)
Languages
Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau dialect[2]
Religion
Animism

The Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau are an indigenous people of Brazil,[3] living in the state of Rondônia.

They live in six villages on the borders of the Uru-Eu-Uaw-Uaw Indigenous Territory, which is shared by two other contacted groups, the Amondawa and Uru Pa In, the latter who speak a Chapacuran language, as well as the Jurureí, Parakua, and two uncontacted tribes whose names are not known.[1]

Name

The Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau people call themselves Jupaú. They are also (mistakenly) known as the Amondauas, Bocas-negras, Bocas-pretas, Cabeça-vermelha, Cautários, Sotérios, Urupain,[1] as well as Jupaú, Black-Mouths, Red-Heads, Urueu-Wau-Wau.[4]

History

The Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau came into contact with non-Natives, specifically the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI) in 1981.[4] The subsequent introduction of diseases, and violent attacks by outsiders, caused a drastic decrease in population from the initially estimated count of fewer than 1,000.[4]

Rubber harvesters disputed FUNAI's demarcation of Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau lands. In 1991, one of the world's largest known tin deposits was discovered in Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau lands.[4]

After 1993 their population began increasing again.[1] The Uru-Eu-Uaw-Uaw Indigenous Territory was established by the Brazilian government to protect the tribes and only Indians can legally live in the indigenous territory; however, loggers and miners have regularly invaded their lands.[5] In the 2022 documentary The Territory, released by National Geographic, Bitaté, an Indigenous leader of the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau, stated the population was approximately 180.[6]

Missionaries are active among the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau, and a non-governmental organization called Kanindé is trying to fight outside influences and assimilationists on the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau.[4]

Language

Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau is one of the nine varieties of the Kagwahiva language, a Tupi–Guarani language, subgroup VI.[4]

Culture

The Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau are hunter-gatherers. They use a poison made from tree bark on their arrows when hunting tapir and other game. They are known for their distinctive tattoos around their mouths made from genipapo, a black vegetal dye.[5]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d "Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau - Indigenous Peoples in Brazil". Povos Indígenas no Brasil. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  2. ^ "Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau". Ethnologue. SIL International. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  3. ^ Loren McIntyre (December 1988). Last Days of Eden: Rondônia's Urueu-Wau-Wau Indians. National Geographic. p. 800–817. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Urueu-Wau-Wau". World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples. Archived from the original on 2015-07-02. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Massive Invasion of Isolated Indians' Land." Survival International. 12 Jan 2007 (retrieved 26 April 2011)
  6. ^ Alex Pritz (director) (2022). The Territory (documentary) (in Portuguese). National Geographic. Statement at 6:42. These days there are about 180 Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau.