TRIBES of the AMAZON

"Information regarding the tribes of the Amazon."

Further in the centralized location of the Amazon Forest reside the Yanomani Tribe; perhaps the second largest tribe beside the Witoto (though the Witoto still outnumber Yanomani by 200, making them the dominant Tribe of the Amazon Forest). Due to their distaste and differences, both Yanomani and Witoto claim to be superior, having waged war on one another over a course of decades. It isn't unlike the women and children of both Tribe's to be civilized, whereas the men take an offensive judgement at first glance.

 

Men: Primary hunters, cooks and warriors sent to defend the borders and protect none other than their very own village. The Yanomani men could care less for other tribes and it's members, their warriors often leaving foes or allies alike to rot where they lay. Brutal in instinct, but terribly loyal to their own kind when it comes to astounding protection. Their goal in life, apart from protecting that of their lifestyle, is to make fertile as many tribal women as possible for multiple sons; whereas the Witoto are loyal to one mate until death. Older men of the tribe once turning over an age of 60 will become Elders, the tribes Shamans and source of healing.

 

Women: Primarily gatherers, mothers and Dreamweavers. Forbidden to act as a warrior at any point in their life, they have but three goals in mind: Gathering food so the men may cook, produce an abundance of offspring to outnumber the Witoto Tribe; raising that child until of proper age, and storytelling for the tribe member's amusement.  

 

Children: Both male and female children are fed off the breast of their mother or wet nurse until the age of five. This establishes a promising immune system and strength to fend off viral, bacteria and other deadly illnesses. It also strengthens the young males along with a fruit and meat diet to ready for a warrior's right of passage. Young girls are similar to share a strong immune system, women of the tribe teaching adolescent girls the fundamentals of storytelling, gathering, sewing, and how to cater the tribal people as a whole.

Belief's and Superstitions: Unlike the Witoto, Yanomani do not believe in praising thanks to their bountiful kills by presenting the gods and godesses with gifts or sacrificial beings, animals; but they do offer to the Xapiri spirit. After taking kill from an animal, they will extract what is needed and leave the carcass where it sits, believing that the afterlife will be there to take the remainder of their kill and feed it to mother nature.

 

Spirital World and Shamanism:

Like tribal peoples throughout the world, Yanomani have very deep spiritual connections to their land. This is reflected in their rich oral history, cosmology, myths and rituals. Often taking hallucinogenic drugs, which enable them to journey to other worlds to connect with spirits, and to cure sickness. This is not casual or recreational, but takes years of training and initiation. Yanomami shamans inhale yakoana or yopo , a hallucinogenic snuff, in order to call on their shamanic spirits. The Xapiri play a crucial role in healing ceremonies and during the reahu, or funeral feast, when communities come together to consume the ashes of dead people; drinking ayahuasca, a brew made from the caapi vine, during healing sessions.