| Huitoto necklace, ca. 1924 |
| Total population |
|---|
| 8,500[1] |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Colombia, Peru |
| Languages |
|
Witotoan languages: Ocaina language (oca), Witoto Proper: Minica Huitoto (hto), Murui Huitoto (huu), Nüpode (hux)[2] |
| Religion |
|
traditional tribal religion |
The Witoto people (also Huitoto) are an indigenous people in southeastern Colombia and northern Peru.[3]
Contents |
Some of the surviving Witoto tribes include the Witoto (proper), the Bora, Ocaina, and Orejone. They currently live along the Apaporis, Caquetá River, and Putumayo Rivers.[3]
The Witito (proper) speak the Witoto language and number from 4,500 to 5,300. The Murui and Muinane are both subgroupds of the Witito (proper), who both speak different dialects of Witoto[1]
The Okaina number around 380, as do the Nanuya. The Andoke and Muinane also speak Witoto.[1]
There are approximately 1,640 Bora and 300 Miraña, who both live near the mouth of the Cahuinari River and along the Igara-Paraná River.[1]
The Witoto people were once composed of one hundred villages or 31 tribes, but disease and conflict has reduced their numbers. Until the early 20th century, Witoto population was 50,000. The rubber boom in the mid-20th century brought diseases and displacement to the Witotos, causing their numbers to plummet to 7,000–10,000.[1]
Since the 1990s, cattle ranchers have invaded Witoto lands—depleting the soil and polluting waterways. In response, Colombia has established several reservations for Witotos.[1]
Witoto peoples all practiced swidden or slash-and-burn agriculture. To prevent depleting the land, they relocate their fields every few yields. Major crops include cacao, coca, maize, bitter and sweet manioc, bananas, mangoes, palms, peanuts, pineapples, plaintains, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, tobacco, and yams. Ethnobotanists have studied Witoto agriculture due to its efficiency and sustainability.[1]
Witoto men also hunt with blowguns and shotguns.[1]