Nambikwara people

Nambikwara

Total population
(1,150 (2000)[1])
Regions with significant populations
Brazil ( Mato Grosso)
Languages
Nambikwara, Portuguese[1]
Religion
Christian, Animist[1]
Related ethnic groups
none

The Nambikwara (also called Nambikuára) is an indigenous people of Brazil, living in the Amazon. Currently about 1,200 Nambikwara live in indigenous territories in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso along the Guaporé and Juruena rivers. Their villages are accessible from the Pan-American highway.^[2]

Name

The Nambikwara are also known as the Alaketesu, Anunsu, Nambikwara, or Nambiquara people.^[1]

Language

The Nambikwara speak the Southern Nambikuára language, which is a Nambiquaran language. A dictionary and grammar have been written for the language, which is written in the Latin script.^[1]

History

The Nambikwara were first contacted in 1770 but did not experience prolonged contact with Europeans until the early 20th century, when Brazilian army official Marechal Cândido Rondon passed through Nambikwara territory to extend the telegraph lines. He estimated that there were around 10,000 Nambikwara. Shortly after contact with European Brazilians epidemics of measles and smallpox decimated the population to only 500 around 1930.^[2]

The culture of the Nambikwara was the subject of studies by French anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss, which were later analyzed by French philosopher Jacques Derrida in his work Of Grammatology.

Bands and subgroups

The Nambikuara Nation is composed of many smaller bands which each have their own name.

• Nambikwara do Sarare
  • Kabixí do Mato Grosso
• Nambikwara do Campo of Mato Grosso — Rondônia
  • Halotesu
  • Hithaulu
  • Sawentesu
  • Wakalitesu
• Nambikwara do Norte of Rondônia — Mato Grosso
  • Lakondê
  • Latundê, A.I. Tubarão-Latunde.
  • Mamaindê, A.I. Pirineus de Souza, and A.I. Vale do Guaporé
  • Nambikwara
  • Manduka, A.I. Pirineus de Souza
  • Negarotê, A.I. Vale do Guaporé
  • Tagnaní
  • Tamaindé
  • Tawandê
  • Tawitê or Tauite.
• Nambikwara do Sul of Mato Grosso
  • Alaketesu
  • Alantesu
  • Galera
  • Hahaintesu, A.I. Vale do Guaporé
  • Kabixí
  • Munduka
  • Waikisu, A.I. Vale do Guaporé
  • Wasusu, A.I. Vale do Guaporé

• Sabanê
  • Sabanê, A.I. Pirineus de Souza

Notes

References

• Kroeker, Menno (2001). "A descriptive Grammar of Nambikuara." IJAL. 67 No. 1. January. pp. 1–87.
• Lévi-Strauss, Claude (1948). "La vie familiale et sociale des indiens nambikwara." Journal de la Société des américanistes. 37, Paris.
• Williams, Suzanne (1983). "Land Rights and the Manipulation of Identity: Official Indian Policy in Brazil." Journal of Latin American Studies. Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 137–161.

External links

• Nambikuára artwork, National Museum of the American Indian

Indigenous peoples of Brazil   Indigenous peoples of the North Region Acre Apurinã Asháninka Kaxinawá Kulina Machinere Yaminawá Amapá Aparai Kalina Palikur Amazonas Amahuaca Apurinã Banawá Baniwa Barasana Bora Cambeba Cubeo Dâw Hup Jamamadi Juma Karajá Korubo Kulina Macuna Mawé Matis Matsés Munduruku Mura Parintintín Pirahã Siriano Tembé Tenharim Ticuna Tiriyó Tucano Turiwára Wai-wai Wayampi Wayana Witoto Yanomami Zuruahã Pará Amanayé Anambé Aparai Apiacá Arara Araweté Atikum Kayapo Munduruku Suruí do Pará Tembé Tiriyó Turiwára Wai-wai Wayampi Wayana Zo'é Rondônia Cinta Larga Kanoê Karitiana Kwaza Paiter Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau Wari’ Roraima Aikanã Akawaio Akuntsu Macushi Patamona Pemon Wapishana Yanomami Ye'kuana Tocantins Apinajé Tapirapé Xambioá Xerente   Indigenous peoples of the Northeast Region Bahia Pataxó Ceará Kiriri Tabajara Tapeba Maranhão Awá-Guajá Guajajara Ka'apor Paraíba Potiguara Pernambuco Xukuru   Indigenous peoples of the Central-West Region Mato Grosso Aimoré Apiacá Aweti Bororo Chiquitano Cinta Larga Enawene Nawe Guató Ikpeng Kaiabi Kalapalo Kamayurá Kayapo Kuikuro Matipu Munduruku Nahukuá Nambikwara Paiter Panará Rikbaktsa Suyá Tapirapé Terena Trumai Umutina Wai-wai Wauja Xavante Yawalapiti Yudjá Mato Grosso do Sul Chamacoco Guarani-Kaiowá Guató Kadiweu Mbayá Ofayé Terena   Indigenous peoples of the South and Southeast Regions Espírito Santo Tupiniquim Minas Gerais Aimoré Kaxixó Xakriabá São Paulo Aimoré Kaingang Terena Widespread Kaingang