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The
Indian peoples of the Amazon Basin are divided into 6 linguistic groups:
Tupi, Karib, Tukano, Jê, Pano and Aruaque. The tribes indigenous to
Acre belong mainly to the groups Pano and Aruaque . The Kaxinawás,
Yawanawás, Poyanawás, Jaminawás, Nukuinis, Araras and
Kaxararis belong to Pano. The Kulinas and the Kampas belong to Aruaque.
There are also indigenous to the present area of Acre the Katukinas, the
Machineris and some isolated groups without contact. The Indians live from
hunting, fishing, agriculture and gathering. They plant manioc, corn,
cotton, tobacco and various fruits. In all the communities there are the
so-called "pajes" (medicine men, shamans) that pass their
knowledge about medicinal plants and rites orally to their successors. The
rites of some indigenous peoples in the area of Acre go along with the
intake of the hallucinogen "Ayahuasca" or "Yage", a
brew from certain vines and leaves. The Indians generally don’t have
the same concept of possession as the "civilized" people. Also
the way, how decisions concerning the village or the tribe are being made,
isn’t the same way linear hierarchical. These kinds of differences
have led to the prejudice that Indians are unreliable and false. This
conviction has always served to justify the discrimination and extinction
of the Indians...
See also the homepage of the Organisation of the Indigenous Peoples of Tarauacá and Jordão - OPITARJ
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