| Total population |
|---|
| 5400 |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Colombia and Venezuela Colombia Venezuela |
| Languages |
| Religion |
|
Christianity |
| Related ethnic groups |
The Motilone, or Bari are names of a Native American ethnic group, part of the Chibcha family, remnants of the Tairona Culture concentrated in northeastern Colombia and western Venezuela in the Catatumbo River basin, in the Colombian Department of Northern Santander in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. They have been the subject of the French ethnologist Robert Jaulin's attention, who redefined the concept of ethnocide by observing their particular fate.
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Although the Bari and Yukpa peoples are commonly referred to as "Motilones," this is not how they refer to themselves. "Motilones" means "shaved heads" in Spanish, and is how Spanish-speaking Colombians refer to them.
In the 16th century, Alonso de Ojeda of Spain sailed to Colombia and discovered the Maracaibo Basin. The Spaniards believed that the area's frequent lightning strikes turned stone into gold, and so they began settling the region extensively. The Motilones fought the Spaniards back from their territory, defeating five royal expeditions sent to pacify the Indians. It was the Spaniards who first named the Barí "Motilones," or "people of the short hair."
Later, a German company directed by Ambrosio Alfinger looted a large amount of gold from Caribe Indians on the western coast of South America, and attempted to transport the gold over the Bobalí Mountains. Motilones ambushed and destroyed the expedition, and the gold was lost, never to be found again. Motilone warriors harassed the troops of Simón Bolívar in the 19th century as he led them over the Orinoco plains and the Andes Mountains.
In the 20th century, oil was discovered in Motilone territory, and as oil companies moved in, their land has been subjected to oil drilling from 1913–1926 and from 1996–2001.
The first peaceful contact that was made with the Bari was by Roberto Lizarralde in 1960. Lizarralde conducted research among the Bari for 44 years and his research was carried on by his son, Manuel Lizarralde. The focus of their research has been on the ethnobotany of the Bari, who possess a vast knowledge of the biodiversity in Amazonia and use 80% of the plants around them.
The missionary Bruce Olson began living with the Bari in 1962, and became the blood brother of a son's chieftain. He's considered the most influential cause behind the "Motilone Miracle", of indigenously-run schools, literacy programs, medical clinics, as well as a concerted effort of the Motilone Bari to reach out with the person of Jesus Christ to 18 other surrounding tribes.
Since the initial contact in 1650, Bari land has been reduced to 7% of its original mass and the Bari have shifted their production to the gardening of cash crops in order to acquire Western goods which are becoming increasingly integrated into their culture.
The Motilone people's chief economic activity is the growing of Theobroma cacao, the plant from which chocolate is made. They export the cacao and use the proceeds to help maintain their network of schools, community centers, and health clinics, all started after large numbers of the Motilones (notably the chieftain, "Bobby") received the Gospel. A transformation occurred in Motionlone Bari culture; and as a result, clinics and schools were started in the Bari culture.
The Motilone speak the Barí language, part of the Chibchan language family.
Current estimates are that 70% of the Motilone people are Christians.[1]
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