Wauja people

The Wauja are an indigenous people of Brazil. They are Aruak speakers, who live in the region near the Upper Xingu River. They had a population of 487 in 2010.

History

The Wauja and Mehinako, two Aruak-speaking tribes native to the Upper Xingu River, are likely descendants of various tribes which came into the region in roughly the 9th or 10th century CE. Archaeological records going back to the time between 1000 and 1600 suggest that the people living in the region were mostly sedentary, with relatively large communities. These villages were built around a central plaza, and were defended with ditches and palisades. Archaeological evidence from the region suggests a strong relationship with a band of Aruak tribes stretching from the Upper Xingu to modern day Bolivia. It is unknown what sort of relationship the Aruak-speaking people of the Upper Xingu River had with other, Carib-speaking tribes, although the current multiethnic order in the region was in place by the 18th century.

German ethnologist Karl von den Steinen was the first European to record the existence of the Wauja tribe in 1884. He received hints that the tribe might exist (under the name Vaurá) by other indigenous peoples that he encountered on his expedition. He discovered exactly where they existed when given a map of the region by members of the Suyá tribe.

External links

• Waurá artwork, National Museum of the American Indian
• http://pib.socioambiental.org/en/povo/wauja/1115
• http://www.native-languages.org/waura.htm

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