Kayapo
 Kayapó chiefs Raoni Metuktire, Kaye, Kadjor, and Panara, Brazil | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 8,638 (2010)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Brazil (Mato Grosso, Pará)[1] | |
| Languages | |
| Kayapo |
The Kayapo (Portuguese: Caiapó) people are indigenous peoples in Brazil, from the plain lands of the Mato Grosso and Pará in Brazil, south of the Amazon Basin and along Rio Xingu and its tributaries.[1]
In 2010, their population was 8,638,[1] which has increased from 7,096 in 2003.[2] Subgroups of the Kayapo include the Xikrin, Gorotire, Mekranoti and Metyktire.[3] Their villages typically consist of a dozen huts. A centrally located hut serves as a meeting place for village men to discuss community issues.[4]
Name
The term Kayapó, also spelled Caiapó or Kaiapó, comes from neighboring peoples and means "those who look like monkeys". This name is probably based on a Kayapó men's ritual involving monkey masks. Their autonym is Mebêngôkre, which means "the men from the water hole/place." Other names for them include Gorotire, Kararaô, Kuben-Kran-Krên, Kôkraimôrô, Mekrãgnoti, Metyktire, and Xikrin.[5]
Language
They speak the Kayapo language, which belongs to the Jê language family.[1]
Land control and environmental issues
At one time, mining and logging threatened to destroy the rainforest, and thus their way of life. In retaliation, the Kayapo people used forceful tactics to banish loggers and miners in some areas, as well as to establish themselves as an economic force. Later, they were again threatened by secretive government plans to build a series of hydro-electric dams on their land. Under the leadership of Paulinho Paiakan, the Altamira Gathering was orchestrated by the Kayapo, drawing media attention worldwide. This demonstration, staged at the planned site for the first dam in Altamira, Pará, lasted several days and brought much pressure upon both the World Bank and the Brazilian government.[6]
In addition, the rock star Sting made an appearance at the demonstration. After which, but not because of, the World Bank denied the request for a loan which was to be used to build the dam. The Brazilian government backed out of the plans, as well.
The forest gives them houses, transport, food and medicine. The problem is that rivers are essential to their way of life and gold mining in Brazil is polluting the rivers, therefore, spreading diseases throughout the tribes. The majority of their food is grown in clearings, which are created by using a method called slash-and-burn. The men of the tribe cut the trees down, and the women burn what's left. The main crop grown is a potato-like plant called manioc. It is deadly poisonous at first and has to be mulched up then have its juices squeezed out, after this it is safe to eat, but in addition to this they also cook it. They eat it at every meal.
Botany and agriculture
The Kayapo people use shifting cultivation, a type of farming where land is cultivated for a few years, after which the people move to a new area. New farmland is cleared and the old farm is allowed to lie fallow and replenish itself.[7]
The Kayapo get medicine from 650 different plants that they find around their village.[8]
They have trade agreements with The Body Shop.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Introduction: Kayapo". Povos Indígenas no Brasil. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- ^ "Bruce Parry's Amazon - About The Journey - The Kayapo". BBC UK. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- ^ "Gorotire". Countries and Their Cultures. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- ^ Popovic, Mislav. "Kayapo". Traditions And Customs. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- ^ "Name: Kayapo". Povos Indígenas no Brasil. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- ^ Clendenning, Alan (May 21, 2008). "Amazon Indians Attack Official Over Dam Project". Associated Press. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- ^ Wilson, Edward O., ed. (1988). Biodiversity, Part 3. National Academies Press. p. 140. ISBN 0309037395.
- ^ McConnell, Douglas John (2003). The forest farms of Kandy: and other gardens of complete design. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 108. ISBN 0754609588.
- ^ "Kayapo: The Body Shop states its case". Retrieved January 16, 2012.