Yanomamis

The Yanomami are indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest, living in the border region between northern Brazil and southern Venezuela. They number about 35,000 to 40,000 and inhabit scattered villages along major rivers within tropical rainforest environments.

Socially, the Yanomami live in dispersed villages organized around extended kin groups. Houses are large communal structures called shabonos, which accommodate multiple families and are arranged around a central space. Their subsistence relies on slash-and-burn horticulture, growing manioc, plantains, and other crops, supplemented by hunting, fishing, and gathering. Exchange and reciprocity link different villages and communities.

They speak Yanomami languages, part of the Yanomaman language family, with several dialects. The belief system features spirits and shamans who mediate with the spiritual world, conduct healing ceremonies, and perform rites connected to puberty, warfare, and harvest. Cultural expression includes body painting, music, and communal ceremonies.

History and contact: Europeans first encountered the Yanomami in the 18th and 19th centuries, with more sustained contact in the 20th century bringing diseases and social change. In recent decades, mining and resource extraction, particularly gold, have posed threats through disease, habitat destruction, and encroachment on traditional lands. Some Yanomami communities engage with national authorities and NGOs to secure land rights, health services, and education.

Ethnography and rights: The Yanomami have been the subject of ethnographic study by researchers such as Napoleon Chagnon and Bruce Albert, among others. Such work has spurred debates over representation, ethics, and the effects of contact. Protection of land rights, autonomy, and access to healthcare remain central concerns for Yanomami communities.