The Nukak Tribe
The Indigenous Tribes of the Rainforest –
The Nukak Tribe
The Nukak Tribe is found in between the Guaviare and Inirida River in the Amazon basin. It is part of the Guaviare department, in the Republic of Colombia.
Unlike any other tribe, the Nukak population is facing a severe threat to extinction. Their current numbers only lies around 400. Over half of their population were found dead or killed since they met in the Columbian civil war between the Columbian soldiers and gorillas. The out-side world has finally answered their calls. The BBC has written an article about their endangerment and survival international has started a campaign to save these people.
Another interesting factor about the Nukak Tribe is their sophisticated hunting methods. They shoot with blow-guns with their tips poisoned from a type of plant called curares. They use bows, arrows and harpoons to hunt for fish. They also use poison, darts, traps, javelins and traps to hunt for large animals.
Marriage is one of the most important customs to the Nukak Tribe. After the man has formally courted the woman with gifts, she has to live with him. If the woman still lives with her father, the gifts must include him. The man must go through an invitation ritual in which he demonstrates his abilities to the woman as he endures several penalties and difficulties. If the woman accepts and has a child, the couple is considered to be a formal pair. I man can marry several wives, although a single wife is most common, as there is increasing problems in finding a suitable partner (population problems).
Ten territorial Nukak groups have been identified, each one with at least 50 or 60 people. If groups merge together, a special ritual is performed, called “entiwat”. The groups dance face to face, striking and verbally injuring each other until the ritual reaches an intense moment when they all embrace each other, while weeping and expressing their affection to their ancestors. Another ritual
The Nukak Tribe
The Nukak Tribe is found in between the Guaviare and Inirida River in the Amazon basin. It is part of the Guaviare department, in the Republic of Colombia.
Unlike any other tribe, the Nukak population is facing a severe threat to extinction. Their current numbers only lies around 400. Over half of their population were found dead or killed since they met in the Columbian civil war between the Columbian soldiers and gorillas. The out-side world has finally answered their calls. The BBC has written an article about their endangerment and survival international has started a campaign to save these people.
Another interesting factor about the Nukak Tribe is their sophisticated hunting methods. They shoot with blow-guns with their tips poisoned from a type of plant called curares. They use bows, arrows and harpoons to hunt for fish. They also use poison, darts, traps, javelins and traps to hunt for large animals.
Marriage is one of the most important customs to the Nukak Tribe. After the man has formally courted the woman with gifts, she has to live with him. If the woman still lives with her father, the gifts must include him. The man must go through an invitation ritual in which he demonstrates his abilities to the woman as he endures several penalties and difficulties. If the woman accepts and has a child, the couple is considered to be a formal pair. I man can marry several wives, although a single wife is most common, as there is increasing problems in finding a suitable partner (population problems).
Ten territorial Nukak groups have been identified, each one with at least 50 or 60 people. If groups merge together, a special ritual is performed, called “entiwat”. The groups dance face to face, striking and verbally injuring each other until the ritual reaches an intense moment when they all embrace each other, while weeping and expressing their affection to their ancestors. Another ritual