Macushi

Macushi, also spelled Makushi, are an indigenous people of the Amazon Basin living primarily in the Brazilian state of Roraima and in southern Guyana, especially the Rupununi region. They form part of a cross-border cultural area with related groups in adjacent areas.

The Macushi language, spoken by communities in both countries, is part of the broader Arawakan language family. Bilingualism is common, with Portuguese in Brazil and English in Guyana, alongside regional linguae francae.

Traditional livelihoods center on shifting cultivation, manioc-based foods, hunting, and fishing, with village life organized around extended families and local councils. Material culture includes crafts and weaving, while music, storytelling, and ritual practices preserve ancestral knowledge. Christian missionaries, along with traditional beliefs, have shaped contemporary religious life, leading to forms of syncretism.

Contact with Europeans began in the colonial era, bringing new technologies, diseases, and religious practices. In modern times, Macushi communities have engaged in land rights movements to secure recognition for indigenous territories and to protect natural resources.

Today Macushi communities participate in Brazil's and Guyana's political systems, often through regional councils and indigenous associations. They face challenges including land demarcation, environmental threats from mining and logging, access to education and healthcare, and efforts to preserve language and culture while integrating into wider economies.