The YanomamoThe Yanomamo

One of the last ‘true’ One of the last ‘true’ culturally isolated peopleculturally isolated people

Live in southern Venezuela Live in southern Venezuela & northwest Brazil& northwest Brazil

Are one of four divisions of Are one of four divisions of the Yanomami peoplethe Yanomami people

12,000 Yanomamo live 12,000 Yanomamo live todaytoday

http://indian-cultures.com/Maps/Map-Yanomamo3.jpg

Isolated From the WorldIsolated From the World Live in the Amazon Live in the Amazon

Basin Basin Villages are scattered Villages are scattered

along uninhabited forestalong uninhabited forest Upper tributaries of the Upper tributaries of the

AmazonAmazon Do not live along the Do not live along the

major riversmajor rivers Therefore-Western world Therefore-Western world

doesn’t venture into the doesn’t venture into the junglejungle

Gold Rush in 1980’s Gold Rush in 1980’s brought them into brought them into contact with the West contact with the West

http://www.crystalinks.com/yanomami.html

Yanomamo Political StructureYanomamo Political Structure Men dominate the Men dominate the

Yanomamo villagesYanomamo villages Usually show their Usually show their

leadership by fightingleadership by fighting Either fighting games, or Either fighting games, or

through warthrough war War is a common part War is a common part

of lifeof life Fight over food, women Fight over food, women

& to settle feuds& to settle feuds Peace is arranged Peace is arranged

through marriages & through marriages & tradetradehttp://www.crystalinks.com/yanomami.html

Cultural WaysCultural Ways No Written languageNo Written language Various dialectsVarious dialects There #’s are 1, 2 & more There #’s are 1, 2 & more

than 2than 2 Gardeners-work 2hrs/day Gardeners-work 2hrs/day

in gardenin garden Bananas, sweet potatoes, Bananas, sweet potatoes,

sugar cane, tobaccosugar cane, tobacco Hunt wild game in forestHunt wild game in forest Make bowls, hammocks, Make bowls, hammocks,

bows, arrows, pigmentsbows, arrows, pigments Trade with other villagesTrade with other villages

Why is this important?Why is this important?http://indian-cultures.com/Cultures/yanomamo.html

Social StructureSocial Structure Villages usually over 40-50 Villages usually over 40-50 people, up to 300 peoplepeople, up to 300 people

Kinship & Marriages Kinship & Marriages dominate relationsdominate relations

Men dominateMen dominate Can beat their wivesCan beat their wives Can have more than 1 wifeCan have more than 1 wife

Marriages are arrangedMarriages are arranged Usually are from other villagesUsually are from other villages Could be relatedCould be related

Live in large communal Live in large communal dwelling-Shabonodwelling-Shabono Disc-shaped with open air Disc-shaped with open air

plazaplaza Different zones encircle the Different zones encircle the

shabonoshabono

Shabono in the forest clearingShabono in the forest clearing

http://www.arch.mcgill.ca/prof/schoenauer/arch528/lect01/n01.htm

Spiritual BeliefsSpiritual Beliefs Believe in ‘four layers’ of Believe in ‘four layers’ of realityreality Top layer is pristineTop layer is pristine Natural & Spirit world Natural & Spirit world

unified-nature is sacred unified-nature is sacred Shaman-religious leaderShaman-religious leader

Uses hallucinagensUses hallucinagens-yopo-yopo Battles spirits from bottom Battles spirits from bottom

layerlayer DeathDeath

Cremate the deadCremate the dead Crush bones & mix with the Crush bones & mix with the

ash & waterash & water Drink the fluid to maintain Drink the fluid to maintain

the family connectionthe family connection