Title: Yanomami
Author: Renato Soares
Portuguese language
Hard cover
Size: 21 x 25cm
Weight: 490g
Pages: 162
ISBN: 9786585724265
The Yanomami are one of the largest, relatively isolated indigenous peoples in South America. They live in the forests and mountains of northern Brazil and southern Venezuela. Like most of the continent's indigenous people, the Yanomami probably migrated across the Bering Strait between Asia and America about 15,000 years ago, slowly making their way to South America. Today, their total population is about 38,000 indigenous people.
With more than 9.6 million hectares, the Yanomami territory in Brazil is twice the size of Switzerland. In Venezuela, the Yanomami live in the Alto Orinoco-Casiquiare Biosphere Reserve. Together, these regions form the largest indigenous territory covered by forest in the world.
The Yanomami first came into direct contact with invaders in the 1940s, when the Brazilian government sent teams to delimit the border with Venezuela. Soon after, the government's Indian Protection Service and religious missionary groups established themselves in Yanomami territory. This influx of people led to the first measles and flu epidemics, resulting in the deaths of many Yanomami.
The Yanomami live in large circular communal houses called “yanos” or “shabonos”. Some can accommodate up to 400 people. The central area is used for activities such as rituals, parties and games.
Each family has their own fire pit where food is prepared and cooked during the day. At night, the hammocks are hung near the fire, which is stoked throughout the night to maintain a good temperature.
The Yanomami strongly believe in equality between people. Each community is independent of the others and they do not recognize “chiefs”. Decisions are made by consensus, often after long debates, where everyone has the right to speak.
Like most Amazonian people, tasks are divided according to gender. Men hunt animals such as peccaries, tapirs, deer and monkeys, and often use curare (a plant extract) to poison their prey.
Find out more about the Yanomami People at https://pib.socioambiental.org...
