Ye'kuana people

Ye'kuana

Regions with significant populations
Brazil,  Venezuela
Brazil	430[1]
Venezuela	6,250[2]
Languages
Ye'kuana language
Religion
Animism

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The Ye'kuana, also called Ye'kwana, Ye'Kuana, Yekuana, Yequana, Yecuana, Dekuana, Maquiritare, Makiritare, So'to or Maiongong, are a Cariban-speaking tropical rain forest tribe who live in the Caura River and Orinoco River regions of Venezuela in Bolivar State and Amazonas State. In Brazil, they inhabit the northeast of Roraima State. In Venezuela, the Ye'kuana live alongside their former enemies, the Sanumá (Yanomami subgroup).

When the Ye’kuana wish to refer to themselves, they use the word So’to, which can be translated as "people", "person". Ye’kuana, in turn, can be translated as "canoe people", "people of the canoes"^[3] or even "people of the branch in the river".

They live in communal houses called Atta or ëttë. The circular structure has a cone-shaped roof made of palm leaves. Building the atta is considered a spiritual activity in which the group reproduces the great cosmic home of the Creator.

The first reference to the Ye'kuana was in 1744 by a Jesuit priest called Manuel Román.

There are some 6,250 Ye'kuana in Venezuela, according to the 2001 census, with some 430 in Brazil.

Jean Liedloff came into contact with the Ye'kuana in the 1950s, while working as a photographer for Italian diamond hunters, and in subsequent personal visits. She based her book The Continuum Concept: In Search of Happiness Lost on their way of life, particularly the upbringing of their children. Liedloff noted the stark contrast between the treatment of Western and Ye'kuana infants, who are normally held "in-arms" 24 hours a day by their mother and other familiar adults and children who take care of them.^[4]

Notes

Further reading

• David. M. Guss: "To Weave and Sing: Art, Symbol, and Narrative in the South American Rainforest" (University of California Press, 1990)
• Jean Liedoff: "The Continuum Concept: In Search of Happiness Lost" ISBN 0-201-05071-4
• Knab-Vispo, C. C. (2003). Ecological observations on heteropsis spp. (araceae) in southern Venezuela. Economic Botany, 57(3), 345-353.

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

Ancestry and ethnicity in Venezuela   Indigenous peoples Current indigenous Achagua Auaké Baniwa Guahibo Hiwi Ingarikó Kali'na Marueta Motilone/Barí Pemon Piaroa Sanumá Warao Wayuu Yanomami Ye'kuana Extinct indigenous Caquetio Chitareros Cumanagoto Jirajara Mariche Otomacos Quiriquire Saladoid Timoto–Cuica   Immigration European German Greek Hungarian Italian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Spanish Scandinavia (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden) Swiss Ukrainian Others Mestizo African Arab Lebanese Armenian Chinese Indian Japanese Jewish Korean Turkish Uruguayan Category:Ethnic groups in Venezuela