7 Tribes of the Rainforest ...

By Neecey

If you’ve read some of my other recent articles, you’ll know I’ve become just a little bit obsessed with the rainforest lately, and I’ve now moved on to tribes of the rainforest. Because rainforest is found in a number of places, there is more diversity among the people who call the forests home than you might imagine. The tribes of the rainforest are decreasing in number because their habitat is being destroyed. Where they are able to maintain their home, they live life pretty much the same way they have done for centuries. Let’s examine and learn a bit more about some tribes of the rainforest, together, shall we?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:

1

The Huli

The Huli There are around 136,000 Huli and they are the indigenous people of Papua New Guinea. They have lived in the South Sea island nation’s highland areas for around 1000 years and are most recognizable by their bright colored displays. They are one of tribes who have members that speak English, as well as Tok Pisin and the Huli language. They are one of the relatively newer tribes of the rainforest, and were only discovered by Europeans in the year 1935.

UPD:

The Huli are one of the seven tribes of the rainforest that inhabit the island nation of Papua New Guinea. They are believed to have lived in the highlands for around 1000 years and are renowned for their colorful displays of clothing and body decorations. The Huli are one of the few tribes in the area who speak English, in addition to their native language and Tok Pisin.

The Huli are a relatively new tribe, only discovered by Europeans in 1935. They are an agrarian society, with their main crops being sweet potatoes, taro, and yams. They also hunt and fish for food, and practice a form of slash-and-burn agriculture.

The Huli are known for their elaborate wigs, made from natural materials such as feathers, shells, and fur. The men of the tribe also wear facial decorations, such as clay and paint, to signify their status and lineage.

2

Yanomami

Yanomami These are truly one of the tribes of the rainforest. There are only around 35,000 of them and they live in some 200-250 village communities in the Amazon rainforest. This is the tribe you often see on TV that has lots of piercing in order to mimic wild animals. Somehow they live in an area with more dangerous insects than people in Brazil. They still follow a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, but are also horticulturalists. There is a distinct male/female divide with women staying at home tending to crops and the children while men go off to hunt. Girls are usually married as soon as they hit puberty.

UPD:

The Yanomami are an indigenous people living in the Amazon rainforest in South America. They are one of the largest tribes in the region, with an estimated population of 35,000. They live in small villages of around 200-250 people, and their lifestyle is based on hunting and gathering, as well as horticulture.

The Yanomami are well known for their traditional body piercings, which they use to mimic the appearance of wild animals. They also have a distinct male/female division of labor, with women tending to crops and children while men go off to hunt. Girls are usually married as soon as they reach puberty.

The Yanomami have faced numerous challenges in recent years, including deforestation, mining, and violence. They are currently fighting for the recognition of their land rights, as well as for access to health care and education. In 1992, the Brazilian government established the Yanomami National Park, which covers an area of over 9 million hectares and is home to over 10,000 Yanomami people.

3

Cashinahua

Cashinahua This is a very small group of people. There are 1,600 Cashinahua in Perú and in Curanja and on Peru’s rivers. In Brazil there are 400 Cashinahua who live in a state called Acre. The tribe is mostly gone now because they were killed off or forced off their lands by rubber extractors. They are known mostly for their use of hallucinogenic compounds and decorating themselves in bright colors. The ones who were not killed were wiped out by western diseases introduced by explorers. Although the Cashinahua live in traditional village communities, they have embraced some of the trappings of modern life, including swapping their blow darts for guns for hunting.

UPD:

The Cashinahua are an Indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest, living in Peru and Brazil. They are known for their use of hallucinogenic compounds and decorating themselves in bright colors. The Cashinahua are a very small tribe, with only 1,600 members in Peru and 400 in Brazil. Unfortunately, much of the tribe has been killed off or forced off their lands by rubber extractors. The ones who were not killed were wiped out by western diseases introduced by explorers.

Though the Cashinahua are a traditional people, they have embraced some of the trappings of modern life, including trading their blow darts for guns for hunting. They are also known for their use of traditional plant-based medicines and their skill in weaving baskets and making pottery. They also practice slash-and-burn agriculture, and hunt and fish for food.

The Cashinahua have a strong connection to the rainforest, and they are dependent on the rainforest for their livelihood. They are very knowledgeable about the plants and animals of the rainforest, and they use the forest for food, medicine, and shelter. They also use the forest to practice their spiritual beliefs, and they believe that the forest is a sacred place.

4

Kayapo

Kayapo This is one of the endangered tribes of the rainforest. They live in Brazil in the Amazon basin. There are only about 8,000 of them but that number is slightly increasing year on year as the tribe took political action to retain control of their lands. They live by a means of shifting cultivation to avoid depleting the soil and amazingly, utilize more than 250 plants for food and 650 plants for medicine. Another tribe that adorns and paints their bodies, the Kayapo use bright colors often in circular patterns to represent the sun and moon, but also use symbols that represent insects and bees – the source of their ancestral knowledge.

5

Witoto

Witoto These people live in Northern Peru and southeastern Colombia. In the 20th century there were around 50,000, but they were killed off through internal conflicts, by people extracting rubber or by disease. There are now around 8,000 of them left, some of them living in government established reservations. The Witoto are famous for their low-signal drums, their wide use of medicinal plants and large communal housing complexes. There used be a thought that the Witoto were cannibals but no evidence supports this. They are major agriculturalists but still hunt with blow darts, along with modern guns.

UPD:

The Witoto are an indigenous tribe that originally lived in the rainforest of Northern Peru and southeastern Colombia. They are renowned for their low-signal drums, their extensive use of medicinal plants, and their large communal housing complexes. In the 20th century, their population was estimated to be around 50,000, but their numbers have since been drastically reduced due to internal conflicts, rubber extraction, and disease. Now, there are only around 8,000 Witoto people left, with some living in government-established reservations.

The Witoto are primarily agriculturalists, but they also hunt with blow darts and modern guns. They have a deep knowledge of the rainforest and are renowned for their medicinal plant use. They are also famous for their intricate weaving and pottery-making techniques.

Despite rumors to the contrary, there is no evidence that the Witoto people were ever cannibals. They are a peaceful people who have managed to survive despite the numerous challenges they have faced in recent decades. Unfortunately, their way of life is now threatened by deforestation and the destruction of their natural habitat. As a result, it is vital that we protect the rainforest and the people who live in it.

Famous Quotes

If you have a harem of 40 women, you never get to know any of them very well.

Warren Buffett
6

Pygmies

Pygmies I’m only including this one to set the record straight. Pygmy is no longer considered to be a respectful term and it was actually applied to a number of tribal groups in Africa whose males were typically shorter than average men. The anthropological definition states pygmy applies to groups where typical male height is less than 150cm (4 foot eleven). So, in fact, there really is no actual tribe called pygmy, and in reality, if there were a tribal classification based on height, which in itself in modern terms is nonsensical, pygmy people are not restricted to Africa, but in many rainforests around the world. Now you know, when you hear someone use the term pygmy, you can explain what it means and advise them against using the word.

7

Baka

Baka Among the rainforest tribes that used to be called pygmies are the Baka. They live in the eastern rainforests of Cameroon, northern Gabon, south western Central African Republic and the northern Republic of Congo. These people are also only 1.52 meters (5 foot) or less and are semi-nomadic. Like nomadic peoples throughout history, they are often viewed with suspicion and marginalized. Due to deforestation, their habitat and nomadic lifestyle are dwindling and younger tribespeople are moving away from their roots to become more sedentary in towns and cities.

It would be so easy to think that all tribes of the rainforest are pretty much the same. It’s true, they do live similar lifestyles in similar habitats, but they all have their own society, rituals, culture and often their own language. I’m going to do some more reading about rainforest tribes. Are you?

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Excellent Article!!!

Lovely article!

This is really fascinating!

Wow! Helped me out for history class!

this is really good aluie

i would like to know how deforestaion has affedcted them

This was a great idea! Different enough from the usual articles... But really interesting

Related Topics

stereotypes in america why were flappers shocking to society wales myths and legends what is the fear of beards called olympic gold medal ice skaters forgotten english words fun facts about otis boykin chris mazder amazing black scientists rhetorical questions funny

Popular Now