what are the threats to the yanomami tribe

The Yanomami Tribe

Full Answer

What happened to the Yanomami tribe?

The gold miners shot them, destroyed villages built by the Yanomami Tribe and exposed them to diseases which they did not have immunity to. More than 20% of the Yanomami tribe died in 7 years time.

Are the Yanomami protected by the government?

Despite the existence of FUNAI, the federal agency representing the rights and interests of indigenous populations, the Yanomami have received little protection from the government against these intrusive forces. In some cases the government can be cited as supporting the infiltration of mining companies into Yanomami lands.

How are women treated in the Yanomami tribe?

Women are often victims of physical abuse and anger. Inter-village warfare is common, but does not too commonly affect women. When Yanomami tribes fight and raid nearby tribes, women are often raped, beaten, and brought back to the shabono to be adopted into the captor's community. Wives may be beaten frequently,...

What is life like in Yanomami culture?

[23] Yanomami women are expected to take responsibility for the children, who are expected to help their mothers with domestic chores from a very young age, and mothers rely very much on help from their daughters. Boys typically become the responsibility of the male members of the community after about age 8.

Where do the Yanomami tribe live?

The indigenous people of the Yanomami tribe live on both sides of the Venezuela-Brazil border. They have had little exposure to the modern world. But their future may now be threatened by a measles outbreak. Getty Images

How many Yanomami cases are there?

There have been as many as 100 cases reported in the Yanomami tribe, who live on both sides of the Venezuela-Brazil border. Illness might be even more widespread, with the possibility of deaths in remote parts of the forest, said Survival International.

How do Yanomami people die?

Violence is one of the leading causes of Yanomami death. Up to half of all of Yanomami males die violent deaths in the constant conflict between neighboring communities over local resources. Often these confrontations lead to Yanomami leaving their villages in search of new ones. Women are often victims of physical abuse and anger. Inter-village warfare is common, but does not too commonly affect women. When Yanomami tribes fight and raid nearby tribes, women are often raped, beaten, and brought back to the shabono to be adopted into the captor's community. Wives may be beaten frequently, so as to keep them docile and faithful to their husbands. Sexual jealousy causes much of the violence. Women are beaten with clubs, sticks, machetes, and other blunt or sharp objects. Burning with a branding stick occurs often, and symbolizes a male's strength or dominance over his wife.

Why are women beaten in Yanomami?

Wives may be beaten frequently, so as to keep them docile and faithful to their husbands.

What is the name of the Indians who lived north of the Orinoco?

Yanomami is the Indians' self-denomination...the term refers to communities disseminated to the south of the Orinoco, [whereas] the variant Yanomawi is used to refer to communities north of the Orinoco. The term Sanumá corresponds to a dialect reserved for a cultural subgroup, much influenced by the neighboring Ye'kuana people. Other denominations applied to the Yanomami include Waika or Waica, Guiaca, Shiriana, Shirishana, Guaharibo or Guajaribo, Yanoama, Ninam, and Xamatari or Shamatari.

How long do Yanomami bones last?

The body is wrapped in leaves and placed in the forest some distance from the shabono; then after insects have consumed the soft tissue (usually about 30 to 45 days), the bones are collected and cremated.

How many people live in a Yanomami village?

Groups of Yanomami live in villages usually consisting of their children and extended families. Villages vary in size, but usually contain between 50 and 400 people. In this largely communal system, the entire village lives under a common roof called the shabono.

Why are Yanomami grouped together?

Yanomami communities are grouped together because they have similar ages and kinship, and militaristic coalitions interweave communities together. The Yanomami have common historical ties to Carib speakers who resided near the Orinoco river and moved to the highlands of Brazil and Venezuela, the location the Yanomami currently occupy.

When was Yanomami land officially demarcated?

After 13 years the Yanomami indigenous land was officially demarcated in 1991 and approved and registered in 1992, thus ensuring that indigenous people had the constitutional right to the exclusive use of almost 96,650 square kilometres (37,320 sq mi) located in the States of Roraima and Amazonas.