List of Huaorani people
Encyclopedia
This list contains members of the Huaorani
tribe of Ecuador
who are known for their connection with events surrounding Operation Auca
.
Note: Many names have alternate spellings. This is because the Huaorani language
contains phonemes that were unknown to those who first studied the language. The Huaorani did not have a writing system until after outside contact, which led to a lack of spelling standardization.
Surnames are sometimes used to indicate one's father, but they do not appear to be commonly used in Huaorani culture.
Many dates are unknown because the Huaorani did not mark time for many years. Most dates are estimated by approximate ages during certain events, and a generation gap of about 20 years. Dates that have been verified are linked.
Huaorani
The Huaorani, Waorani or Waodani, also known as the Waos, are native Amerindians from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador who have marked differences from other ethnic groups from Ecuador. The alternate name Auca is a pejorative exonym used by the neighboring Quechua Indians, and commonly adopted by...
tribe of Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
who are known for their connection with events surrounding Operation Auca
Operation Auca
Operation Auca was an attempt by five Evangelical Christian missionaries from the United States to bring the gospel to the Huaorani people of the rainforest of Ecuador...
.
Note: Many names have alternate spellings. This is because the Huaorani language
Huaorani language
The Huaorani language, commonly known as Sabela is a language isolate spoken by the Huaorani people, an indigenous group living in the Amazon Rainforest between the Napo and Curaray Rivers...
contains phonemes that were unknown to those who first studied the language. The Huaorani did not have a writing system until after outside contact, which led to a lack of spelling standardization.
Surnames are sometimes used to indicate one's father, but they do not appear to be commonly used in Huaorani culture.
Many dates are unknown because the Huaorani did not mark time for many years. Most dates are estimated by approximate ages during certain events, and a generation gap of about 20 years. Dates that have been verified are linked.
Men
- Awañetae (c. 1915–c. 1955) was Gabo and Ompodae's father. He was killed by Dabo while sleeping in his hammock.
- Caento (Tyaento; c. 1915–c. 1947) was Dayuma's father. He was mortally speared in the knee by Moipa, crippling him at first. His death led to Dayuma's flight from her home.
- Dabo (born ca. 1935) is the killer of Awañetae. He also tried to kill Awañetae's son, Gabo, with a machete. Later in life, Dabo gave up his life of killing, making the observation that the tribe would have killed each other off had they not stopped spearing each other. His wife's name was Weba.
- Dyuwi Tani (Dyuwe, Yowi Tañi born c. 1935) was one of the six men from the attack at Palm Beach, and is one of the four surviving participants. A few months after the massacre, he and Nimonga also speared Nenkiwi. He had been promised to Gimade to marry, and his animosity was directed against Nenkiwi who had taken Gimade instead. Dyuwi later became a Christian and an elder in the Huaorani church. He and Kimo baptized Kathy and Steve SaintSteve SaintStephen Farris Saint is an Ecuadorian-born business entrepreneur, pilot, and author. He is known for being the son of Nate Saint, a famous missionary pilot, as well as for his own work among indigenous tribes.-Early life:...
in 1970. He has a reputation as a quiet person. - Enkedi (c. 1915–c. 1950) was the father of MincayeMincayeMincaye Enquedi is a Huao Ecuadorian preacher and church elder. In 1956, he took part in the now infamous attack on five missionaries during Operation Auca...
. He participated in an attack on the village of ArajunoArajunoArajuno is a jungle community in the Ecuadorian rainforest. It is also a Canton in the Pastaza Province. It is located on the Arajuno River, a tributary of the Curaray. The area is inhabited by Quechua Indians....
and killed several Quichua Indians. When the Arajunos fought back, those who attacked with Enkedi fled, but he stayed to fight them and was killed. - Itaeca (Itaeka born c. 1925) is Moipa's brother. He speared Kimo's mother and also speared Moipa.
- Gabo (c. 1935–c. 1955) was Ompodae's brother. He was attacked and mortally wounded by Dabo. After receiving a severe cut on his face, he died soon afterwards.
- Gikita Wawae (Giketa, Guikita; c. 1915–February 13, 1997) was the leader of the attack at Palm Beach. He later became a Christian as well as an elder in the Huaorani church. During Operation Auca when Nate Saint was making gift drops from his airplane, Gikita was the first to offer a gift in return. He stole Paa's parrot and put him in the basket for the missionaries.
- Kimo Yeti (born c. 1935) was one of the six men from the attack at Palm Beach, and is one of the four surviving participants.
Kimo took Dawa as his wife after participating in a spearing raid which killed most of her immediate family. They were not able to have children, but he never took another wife. In 1956, he was part of the spearing raid at Palm Beach where he is believed to have killed Pete FlemingPete FlemingPeter Sillence Fleming was an evangelical Christian who was one of five missionaries killed while participating in Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Waodani people of Ecuador.- Early life :Fleming was born in Seattle, Washington...
, the last of the missionaries to be killed. Later he became one of the first Huaroni converts to Christianity (after Dayuma and his wife Dawa). He built a home for the missionaries, despite resistance from within the tribe. He later became an elder in the Huaorani church. Kimo, along with Dyuwi, baptized Kathy and Steve SaintSteve SaintStephen Farris Saint is an Ecuadorian-born business entrepreneur, pilot, and author. He is known for being the son of Nate Saint, a famous missionary pilot, as well as for his own work among indigenous tribes.-Early life:...
in the Curaray RiverCuraray RiverThe Curaray River is a river in eastern Ecuador and is part of the Amazon River basin. The land along the river is home to several indigenous people groups including the Quechua and Huaorani...
. Rachel Saint once took him and Komi to Berlin, Germany for a Billy GrahamBilly GrahamWilliam Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
evangelistic conference where he shared his testimony in front of an international audience. - Komi (born c. 1935) is Dayuma's husband. Rachel Saint once took him and Kimo to Berlin, Germany for a Billy GrahamBilly GrahamWilliam Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
evangelistic conference where he shared his testimony in front of an international audience. Their testimonies were reported to be so moving to the audience, that one pastor ran onto the stage to meet them. - Mincaye EnquediMincayeMincaye Enquedi is a Huao Ecuadorian preacher and church elder. In 1956, he took part in the now infamous attack on five missionaries during Operation Auca...
(Mincayi, Minkayi, or Minkayani, Huao for "Wasp"; born c. 1935) was one of the six men from the attack at Palm Beach, and is one of the four surviving participants. He later became a Christian as well as an elder in the Huaorani church. He has become one of the most outspoken of the Huaorani due to his many appearances in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
alongside Steve SaintSteve SaintStephen Farris Saint is an Ecuadorian-born business entrepreneur, pilot, and author. He is known for being the son of Nate Saint, a famous missionary pilot, as well as for his own work among indigenous tribes.-Early life:...
. The 20062006 in film- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2006...
film End of the SpearEnd of the SpearEnd of the Spear is a 2006 docudrama film that recounts the story of Operation Auca, in which five American Christian missionaries attempted to evangelize the Huaorani people of the jungle of Ecuador...
focuses mainly on his life.
Mincaye is also the name of Mincaye's grandson, who is sometimes called "Mincaye, Jr." The name was also given to Jaime Saint as a tribal name. - Moipa (c. 1925–c. 1955) was known as one of the fiercest and strongest Huao warriors. He once attacked ArajunoArajunoArajuno is a jungle community in the Ecuadorian rainforest. It is also a Canton in the Pastaza Province. It is located on the Arajuno River, a tributary of the Curaray. The area is inhabited by Quechua Indians....
and speared six Shell Oil CompanyShell Oil CompanyShell Oil Company is the United States-based subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company of Anglo Dutch origins, which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world. Approximately 22,000 Shell employees are based in the U.S. The head office in the U.S. is in Houston, Texas...
employees. He also speared Kimo's mother, but she survived. He also terrorized Dayuma's family, severely wounding her father, Caento. Moipa was eventually killed by his brother, Itaeca, in retaliation. - Nampa (c. 1935–1956 or 1957) was Dayuma's younger brother and was one of the six men from the attack at Palm Beach. His other sister, Gimade, was the love interest of Nenkiwi, and Nampa was so much against the idea of them marrying he was ready to spear Nenkiwi.
Nampa died after the attack at Palm Beach, and the time of death as well as the cause of death have been the subject of a small controversy. During the attack, he was injured in the head by a bullet fired from one of the missionaries' pistols. Some claimed that Nampa died shortly afterwards from complications related to the injury, while others have reported that he lived on for well over a year and died during a hunting expedition.
- Nenkiwi (Kemi, Naenkiwi, Nankiwi, Nengkewi, or Nenquihui, nicknamed "George"; c. 1935–1956) was one of the three visitors to Palm Beach two days before the massacre. He was following Gimade whom he wanted to marry. His first wife had been speared and he himself had drowned his second wife. At the time he already had two wives, as well as a reputation as a trouble maker. This led the tribe to be much against the idea of him marrying Gimade as well.
During the visit at Palm Beach, Nenkiwi ate hamburgers and spoke with the missionaries. Nate SaintNate SaintNathanael "Nate" Saint was an evangelical Christian missionary pilot to Ecuador who, along with four others, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Waodani people through efforts known as Operation Auca....
took him for two rides in the airplane. During the second ride, Saint buzzed Nenkiwi's village as he called to his friends below, almost falling out of the plane at one point. Later Nenkiwi lied to the other Huaorani and told them that the missionaries were hostile and had threatened him. This was the excuse that led to the massacre at Palm Beach, even though MincayeMincayeMincaye Enquedi is a Huao Ecuadorian preacher and church elder. In 1956, he took part in the now infamous attack on five missionaries during Operation Auca...
said later that they knew Nenkiwi was lying.
Later that same year, Nenkiwi was speared by Dyuwi and Nimonga. As was Huao custom, his children were to be buried with him. His daughter was strangled to death and placed in the grave next to him, but his son, Tementa, who was a baby at the time, was saved by his mother, Epa. - Nimonga (Nimungka; c. 1935–1990) was one of the six men from the attack at Palm Beach. He is believed to have speared both Jim ElliotJim ElliotPhilip James Elliot was an evangelical Christian who was one of five missionaries killed while participating in Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Waodani people of Ecuador.-Early life:...
and Roger YouderianRoger YouderianRoger Youderian was an Armenian-American evangelical Christian missionary to Ecuador who, along with four others, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Huaorani people through efforts known as Operation Auca....
during the attack. Later, he and Dyuwi speared Nenkiwi. - Paa (born ca. 1950) is an elder in the Huao church. When he was a child, he was the owner of the tame parrot that was given to the missionaries during the gift drops. Paa was upset about giving up the bird, but he had no choice in the matter.
- Tementa Nenquihui (Tamaenta, Teminta, Temente, Tementa Nenquiwi Huamoni; born c. 1956) is the son of Nenkiwi and Epa. He became a Christian and a tribal leader. He and Mincaye together baptizedBaptismIn Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
Anna McCully, the granddaughter of Ed McCullyEd McCullyEdward "Ed" McCully was an evangelical Christian missionary to Ecuador who, along with four other missionaries, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Huaorani people, through efforts known as Operation Auca.-Early years:...
, in the Curaray RiverCuraray RiverThe Curaray River is a river in eastern Ecuador and is part of the Amazon River basin. The land along the river is home to several indigenous people groups including the Quechua and Huaorani...
. He was trained to fly a powered parachutePowered parachuteA powered parachute is a parachute with motor and wheels. The aircraft's airspeed is typically about 25–35 mph . PPCs operate safely at heights ranging from a few feet off the ground to altitudes as high as 18,000+ feet...
as part of Steve Saint'sSteve SaintStephen Farris Saint is an Ecuadorian-born business entrepreneur, pilot, and author. He is known for being the son of Nate Saint, a famous missionary pilot, as well as for his own work among indigenous tribes.-Early life:...
efforts to help the Huaorani become more self-dependent. His wife's name is Nemontae. - Toñae (Tona c. 1947–1970) was the first Huaorani martyrMartyrA martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
. He was living with the upriver Huaorani tribe where the missionaries first came, although he was originally from the downriver tribe. The downriver and upriver tribes were historical enemies, and Toñae had been captured as a child during an upriver raid on the downriver tribe. After becoming a Christian, he wanted to return to his family to evangelize them as well. At first they were happy that he had returned home, but when they realized that he had given up spearing, they turned on him and killed him. The village of Tonampade is named after him.
Women
- Aepi (born c. 1940) fled the village with Dayuma.
- Akawo (c. 1915–1975) was Dayuma and Nampa's mother. She was one of the four women from the attack at Palm Beach.
- Bibanca (born c. 1940) was Mincaye's younger sister. She was killed by an anacondaAnacondaAn anaconda is a large, non-venomous snake found in tropical South America. Although the name actually applies to a group of snakes, it is often used to refer only to one species in particular, the common or green anaconda, Eunectes murinus, which is one of the largest snakes in the world.Anaconda...
while sitting in a canoe. - Dawa (born c. 1935) is Kimo's wife. She was present at Palm Beach during the massacre, but she did not participate in the attack. Instead she hid in the jungle on the far side of the river. She said that the whole time she wanted the others to stop the killing, but was unable to stop them. During the skirmish, her wrist was injured from a stray bullet from one of the missionaries' weapons. Dawa believed the shot was meant as a warning and not intended for her, since it appeared none of the missionaries had seen where she was hiding. After the attack, she went up into the missionaries' tree house. Later, Dawa became the second member of the tribe to become a Christian (after Dayuma). She also became close with Steve SaintSteve SaintStephen Farris Saint is an Ecuadorian-born business entrepreneur, pilot, and author. He is known for being the son of Nate Saint, a famous missionary pilot, as well as for his own work among indigenous tribes.-Early life:...
, who calls her "Grandmother Dawa". - DayumaDayumaDayuma is a member of the Huaorani tribe and a citizen of Ecuador. She is a central figure in the Operation Auca saga, in that she was the first Huao convert to Christianity, as well as the missionaries' key to unlocking the Huaorani language, a language that had not been previously studied...
(Dayumae; born c. 1930) fled her tribe as a young girl with Aepi and Omi. She lived with Quechua Indians and American missionaries. Dayuma was helpful in teaching the Huaorani language to the missionaries. Dayuma was the first known Huaorani to convert to Christianity. She eventually moved back to live with her people along with Rachel Saint and Elisabeth Elliot. - Epa (born ca. 1935) was Nenkiwi's oldest living wife. According to custom, she killed her daughter Gamae to be buried with Nenkiwi. Her son Tementa, a baby at the time, would have had the same fate, but Epa took him and ran away, saving his life.
- Gamae (c. 1950–1956) was Nenkiwi and Epa's daughter. According to custom, she was killed and buried with her father when he died.
- Gimade (Gimari, nicknamed "Delilah" born c. 1938) was Nampa and Dayuma's sister. She visited Palm Beach along with Nenkiwi and Gimare two days before the massacre. She had come to the beach because she wanted to see Dayuma, whom she assumed would be with the missionaries. She was being pursued romantically by Nenkiwi. She later died in childbirth.
- Mankamo (Mankuma, Huao for "BlackbirdNew World blackbirdThe New World blackbirds consist of 26 species of icterid birds that share the name blackbird but do not correspond with a formal taxon...
") is Gikita's widow. She and Mintaka were the ones who initiated contact with the outside world, after they left their tribe in search of Dayuma. - Mintaka (Huao for "Blue MacawMacawMacaws are small to large, often colourful New World parrots. Of the many different Psittacidae genera, six are classified as macaws: Ara, Anodorhynchus, Cyanopsitta, Primolius, Orthopsittaca, and Diopsittaca...
" born c. 1915) was Gikita's sister. She was the older woman who visited Palm Beach along with Nenkiwi and Gimade two days before the massacre. She had come acting as a chaperone for Nenkiwi and Gimade. However, when they left, Mintaka stayed behind with the missionaries well into the night. Two days later she returned to Palm Beach and was one of the four women from the attack. In November 1958, Mintaka and Mankamo left their tribe and met Elisabeth Elliot in Arajuno. She stayed there for almost a year, then returned to the tribe. When she came back, she invited Elisabeth and Rachel to come and live with them. - Miñimo (Minyimo; died 1956) was one of the four women from the attack at Palm Beach.
- Nemo (Nimo, Nimu, Huao for "Star"; c. 1935–c. 1945) was one of Dayuma's sisters and was killed by hostile Huao warriors with a machete. Earlier in her life, she was very sick with a fever, and after drinking from a certain creek, the water seemed to heal her. Later, when Steve SaintSteve SaintStephen Farris Saint is an Ecuadorian-born business entrepreneur, pilot, and author. He is known for being the son of Nate Saint, a famous missionary pilot, as well as for his own work among indigenous tribes.-Early life:...
returned to help the Huaorani build a community center in the jungle, they happened to build it at the same place where Nemo's creek was. They called the new community Nemompode, "Star Creek", after Nemo. Both Rachel and Stephenie Saint were also given the name Nemo as a tribal name. - Omi (Umi; born c. 1940) was Dayuma's cousin. She fled the village with her.
- Ompodae (born c. 1935) is Mincaye's wife. She was originally a member of the downriver clan who were the historical enemies of Mincaye's clan. Most of her family was killed during a spearing raid led by Dyuwi, Mincaye, Dabo, and Nenkiwi. Although she was taken to be Mincaye's wife by force, they developed a strong relationship. Like Mincaye, she has also traveled to the United States.
Other Names
- Waengongi (Wangongi) – Name of the creator god. The ancient Huaorani taught that Waengongi had created the world, and while he still provided for them, he no longer communicated with them. The missionaries used the name to refer to God the FatherGod the FatherGod the Father is a gendered title given to God in many monotheistic religions, particularly patriarchal, Abrahamic ones. In Judaism, God is called Father because he is the creator, life-giver, law-giver, and protector...
. - Itota (Huao for "God") – This name was used by the missionaries for JesusJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, the Son of Waengongi.
Tribal Names
(Names given by the tribe to outsiders who have lived with them)- Nemo ("Star") – Rachel Saint
- Gikari (Gikadi, Huao name for a CampephilusCampephilusCampephilus is a genus of large American woodpeckers in the family Picidae.This genus was created by George Robert Gray, who suggested taking Campephilus principalis as the type for the genus. The name Campephilus means "lover of grubs" - an allusion to the diet of these birds, many of which feed...
woodpecker) – Elisabeth ElliotElisabeth ElliotElisabeth Elliot is a Christian author and speaker. Her first husband, Jim Elliot, was killed in 1956 while attempting to make missionary contact with the Auca of eastern Ecuador. She later spent two years as a missionary to the tribe members who killed her husband... - Babae (Sounds like the Huao word for "wild") – Steve SaintSteve SaintStephen Farris Saint is an Ecuadorian-born business entrepreneur, pilot, and author. He is known for being the son of Nate Saint, a famous missionary pilot, as well as for his own work among indigenous tribes.-Early life:...
- Ongingcamo – Ginny Saint
- Toñae – Shaun Saint
- Mincaye ("Wasp") – Jaime Saint
- Yeti – Jesse Saint
- Nemo ("Star") – Stephenie Saint
Articles
- Justice, Nancy. Amazon Tribe Still Responding to Gospel Years After Missionary Deaths
- Paulson, Tim. Wings of a Dream (2000)
- Saint, SteveSteve SaintStephen Farris Saint is an Ecuadorian-born business entrepreneur, pilot, and author. He is known for being the son of Nate Saint, a famous missionary pilot, as well as for his own work among indigenous tribes.-Early life:...
. Did They Have to Die? - Warren, Adrian. WAORANI: The Saga of Ecuador's Secret People: A Historical Perspective. (2002)
- Report from Activist: Nampa, Steve Saint and End of the Spear - Dodging Question (2006)
- Palm Beach Interview Series
Documentary Films
- Through Gates of Splendor (1967)
- Beyond the Gates of SplendorBeyond the Gates of SplendorBeyond the Gates of Splendor is a feature-length documentary film that was released in 2004. It chronicles the events leading up to and following Operation Auca, an attempt to contact the Huaorani tribe of Ecuador in which five American missionaries were killed...
(2004)