Wayampi
Encyclopedia
The Wayampi are a Tupi–Guarani-speaking group located in the south-eastern border area of French Guiana
at the confluence of Camopi
and Oyapock
rivers, and the basins of the Amapari
and Carapanatuba Rivers in the central part of Amapá
state, Brazil
. As of 2001 the Wayampi numbered 1,180 individuals scattered in 11 villages, of which 650 lived in French Guiana
(3 villages) and 530 in Brazil
(8 villages).
to the Jari River
, then northward along the Jari
and Amapari rivers. Under the influence of the Jesuits, the Wayampi fought with the French colonialists until 1780, when they became totally isolated. Reports from the beginning of the 19th century show a total population of 6,000, as compared with 850 in 1990. From 1820, some northern groups began making contact with French officials, but most of the Wayampi continued their isolation in the Amazonian forest throughout the 19th century. Only in the 1940s were the villages of French Guiana
contacted by geographers; two schools were built in here 1956 and 1971. In Brazil
, as late as 1973 had FUNAI
established contact with the Wayampi. Even as today the various Wayampi communities are moderately acculturated at best, and as of late 1990s there was evidence of two groups, located at the headwaters of Eureupousine (French Guiana
) and Tangararé
(Brazil
) rivers, respectively, who have made no contact at all, either with the main group of Wayampi or with non-Indians.
, sweet potato
es, yam
s, and banana
s. Among the groups of the Amapari and upper Oyapok rivers hunting
is the most important, while bow- and arrow-fishing
is predominant for the northernmost group. With the exception of the Mariry community, which carries out limited exploitation of gold claims, there is little participation in the cash economy. The Wayampis that work as civil servants in the local administrations are paid through gifts.
The Wayampi were part of the great commercial link of the Wayana Indians
which extended form the Amapari river in Brazil
as far as the Tapanahoni river in Surinam. They traded cotton thread, hunting dogs and feather crowns mainly for tools. Today this network has been disrupted by the increased control of national boundaries, though it remains alive between various Wayampi groups. Since the late 1970s Western goods replaced local manufactures, with the exception of baskets and cotton-woven hammocks. Such products as ammunition, fishhooks, pans, and glass beads are increasingly traded.
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
at the confluence of Camopi
Camopi
Camopi is a commune of French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America. With a land area of , it is the third-largest commune of France....
and Oyapock
Oyapock River
The Oyapock or Oiapoque River is a 370-km long river in South America that forms most of the border between French Guiana and the Brazilian state of Amapá...
rivers, and the basins of the Amapari
Arapari River (Amapá)
-References:*...
and Carapanatuba Rivers in the central part of Amapá
Amapá
Amapá is one of the states of Brazil, located in the extreme north, bordering French Guiana and Suriname to the north. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean, and to the south and west is the Brazilian state of Pará. Perhaps one of the main features of the state is the River Oiapoque, as it was once...
state, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. As of 2001 the Wayampi numbered 1,180 individuals scattered in 11 villages, of which 650 lived in French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
(3 villages) and 530 in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(8 villages).
History
The first documents about the Wayampi are Portuguese sources from the early 18th century mentioning the groups migration from the lower Xingu RiverXingu River
The Xingu River , also called Rio Xingu, is a 1,230-mile long, river in north Brazil; it is a southeast tributary of the Amazon River.-Description and history:...
to the Jari River
Jari River
The Jari River, is a northern tributary of the Amazon river on the border between the states of Pará and Amapá in northeastern Brazil. It is in the most downstream regions of the Amazon Basin and borders the Guiana Highlands and the Guianas and French Guiana to the northwest.-Tributaries:*...
, then northward along the Jari
Jari River
The Jari River, is a northern tributary of the Amazon river on the border between the states of Pará and Amapá in northeastern Brazil. It is in the most downstream regions of the Amazon Basin and borders the Guiana Highlands and the Guianas and French Guiana to the northwest.-Tributaries:*...
and Amapari rivers. Under the influence of the Jesuits, the Wayampi fought with the French colonialists until 1780, when they became totally isolated. Reports from the beginning of the 19th century show a total population of 6,000, as compared with 850 in 1990. From 1820, some northern groups began making contact with French officials, but most of the Wayampi continued their isolation in the Amazonian forest throughout the 19th century. Only in the 1940s were the villages of French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
contacted by geographers; two schools were built in here 1956 and 1971. In Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, as late as 1973 had FUNAI
Funai
Funai Electric is a Japanese consumer electronics company headquartered in Daitō, Osaka. The company was founded in 1961. It owns the subsidiary Funai Corporation, Inc., established in the United States since 1991, to market and maintain Funai-licensed brands such as Sylvania, Emerson Radio,...
established contact with the Wayampi. Even as today the various Wayampi communities are moderately acculturated at best, and as of late 1990s there was evidence of two groups, located at the headwaters of Eureupousine (French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
) and Tangararé
Tangararé River
-References:*...
(Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) rivers, respectively, who have made no contact at all, either with the main group of Wayampi or with non-Indians.
Economy
The Wayampi practice slash-and-burn agriculture and subsist primarily on cassavaCassava
Cassava , also called yuca or manioc, a woody shrub of the Euphorbiaceae native to South America, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates...
, sweet potato
Sweet potato
The sweet potato is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the family Convolvulaceae. Its large, starchy, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots are an important root vegetable. The young leaves and shoots are sometimes eaten as greens. Of the approximately 50 genera and more than 1,000 species of...
es, yam
Yam (vegetable)
Yam is the common name for some species in the genus Dioscorea . These are perennial herbaceous vines cultivated for the consumption of their starchy tubers in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania...
s, and banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s. Among the groups of the Amapari and upper Oyapok rivers hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
is the most important, while bow- and arrow-fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
is predominant for the northernmost group. With the exception of the Mariry community, which carries out limited exploitation of gold claims, there is little participation in the cash economy. The Wayampis that work as civil servants in the local administrations are paid through gifts.
The Wayampi were part of the great commercial link of the Wayana Indians
Wayana
The Wayana are a Carib-speaking people located in the south-eastern part of the Guiana highlands, a region divided between Brazil, Surinam, and French Guiana...
which extended form the Amapari river in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
as far as the Tapanahoni river in Surinam. They traded cotton thread, hunting dogs and feather crowns mainly for tools. Today this network has been disrupted by the increased control of national boundaries, though it remains alive between various Wayampi groups. Since the late 1970s Western goods replaced local manufactures, with the exception of baskets and cotton-woven hammocks. Such products as ammunition, fishhooks, pans, and glass beads are increasingly traded.
External links
- Wayampi language dictionary online from IDS (select simple or advanced browsing)