Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau Explained

Group:Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau
Native Name:Jupaú
Population:152 (November 2023)[1]
Popplace:
Rels:Animism
Langs:Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau language[2]

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.[4]

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.[5]

History

The Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau came into contact with non-Natives, specifically the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI) in 1981,[5] which was followed by a loss of population. In 1981, there were 250 Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau people, but only 89 in 1993. Diseases and violent attacks by outsiders have killed them. Rubber harvesters fought FUNAI's outlines 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.[5]

After 1993 their population began increasing again.[4] 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.[6] Missionaries are active among the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau, and an NGO called Kanindé is trying to fight outside influences and assimilationists on the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau.[5]

Language

The Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau speak one of the nine varieties of the Kagwahiva language, a Tupi–Guarani language, Subgroup IV.[5] The language is also known as Uru-Eu-Uau-Uau, Eru-Eu-Wau-Wau, Ureuwawau, or Kagwahiva, and its ISO 639-3 language code is "urz".[2]

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.[6]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://pib.socioambiental.org/en/povo/uru-eu-wau-wau "Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau: Introduction."
  2. http://www.ethnologue.com/%5C/15/show_language.asp?code=urz "Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau."
  3. http://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/urueu-wau-wau/ Last Days of Eden: Rondônia's Urueu-Wau-Wau Indians
  4. http://pib.socioambiental.org/en/povo/uru-eu-wau-wau/1125 "Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau: Identification and Demography."
  5. http://www.minorityrights.org/5310/brazil/urueuwauwau.html "Urueu-Wau-Wau."
  6. http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/2156 "Massive Invasion of Isolated Indians' Land."