1. The Yanomamo One of the last ‘true’ culturally isolated people One of the last ‘true’ culturally isolated people Live in southern Venezuela & northwest Brazil Live in southern Venezuela & northwest Brazil Are one of four divisions of the Yanomami people Are one of four divisions of the Yanomami people 12,000 Yanomamo live today 12,000 Yanomamo live today http://indian-cultures.com/Maps/Map-Yanomamo3.jpg

2. Isolated From the World Live in the Amazon Basin Live in the Amazon Basin Villages are scattered along uninhabited forest Villages are scattered along uninhabited forest Upper tributaries of the Amazon Upper tributaries of the Amazon Do not live along the major rivers Do not live along the major rivers Therefore-Western world doesn’t venture into the jungle Therefore-Western world doesn’t venture into the jungle Gold Rush in 1980’s brought them into contact with the West Gold Rush in 1980’s brought them into contact with the West http://www.crystalinks.com/yanomami.html

3. Yanomamo Political Structure Men dominate the Yanomamo villages Men dominate the Yanomamo villages Usually show their leadership by fighting Either fighting games, or through war War is a common part of life War is a common part of life Fight over food, women & to settle feuds Peace is arranged through marriages & trade Peace is arranged through marriages & trade http://www.crystalinks.com/yanomami.html

4. Cultural Ways No Written language No Written language Various dialects Various dialects There #’s are 1, 2 & more than 2 There #’s are 1, 2 & more than 2 Gardeners-work 2hrs/day in garden Gardeners-work 2hrs/day in garden Bananas, sweet potatoes, sugar cane, tobacco Bananas, sweet potatoes, sugar cane, tobacco Hunt wild game in forest Hunt wild game in forest Make bowls, hammocks, bows, arrows, pigments Make bowls, hammocks, bows, arrows, pigments Trade with other villages Trade with other villages Why is this important? Why is this important? http://indian-cultures.com/Cultures/yanomamo.html

5. Social Structure Villages usually over 40-50 people, up to 300 people Villages usually over 40-50 people, up to 300 people Kinship & Marriages dominate relations Kinship & Marriages dominate relations Men dominate Men dominate Can beat their wives Can have more than 1 wife Marriages are arranged Marriages are arranged Usually are from other villages Could be related Live in large communal dwelling-Shabono Live in large communal dwelling-Shabono Disc-shaped with open air plaza Different zones encircle the shabono

6. Shabono in the forest clearing http://www.arch.mcgill.ca/prof/schoenauer/arch528/lect01/n01.htm

7. Spiritual Beliefs Believe in ‘four layers’ of reality Believe in ‘four layers’ of reality Top layer is pristine Top layer is pristine Natural & Spirit world unified-nature is sacred Natural & Spirit world unified-nature is sacred Shaman-religious leader Shaman-religious leader Uses hallucinagens -yopo Uses hallucinagens -yopo Battles spirits from bottom layer Battles spirits from bottom layer Death Death Cremate the dead Cremate the dead Crush bones & mix with the ash & water Crush bones & mix with the ash & water Drink the fluid to maintain the family connection Drink the fluid to maintain the family connection