Blog for Anthro 104, Fall 08, UMass Amherst

(In discussing tribes and chiefdom societies, we’ve looked at the Kayapo as an example.  Here’s more information about the Kayapó from Sociedade Internacional de Lingüística, SIL Brasil)

The Kayapó are a tribal/chiefdom culture of about 5,000 people spread over nine primary villages.  They are also known by the alternative names Xikrin or Txhukahamai and their language is classified as Macro-Gê, Kayapó.
“The Kayapó were formerly considered to be a very warlike and aggressive tribe inhabiting southern Pará and Northern Mato Grosso, roaming a vast territory from east of the Xingu to the Tapajós. The eastern sector of the tribe was pacified around 1940, and the western sector in the 1950′s by the Villas Boas brothers. They warred with neighbouring tribes such as the Karajá, Juruna, Xavante, Tapirapé, Kreen-Akorore and others, as well as local Brazilians such as rubber-tappers and those living along the rivers. They killed, burned villages, sacked them and took captives. Some of these captives are still living in Kayapó villages today, integrated into Kayapó society, married and with children and grandchildren.

Besides warring with non-Kayapós, they also had internal warfare between the different villages and factions, raiding and killing amongst themselves. Today there is no more internal warfare, nor warfare against other tribes, but they assert their bellicose natures by attacking whomever encroaches on their land.

Some of the distinctive features of Kayapó culture are the lip disks that used to be worn by the men and still are worn by some, although the practice is no longer being continued by the younger generation. Another feature is the beautiful body painting in intricate geometric designs that children and adults of both sexes use. Another very interesting feature is their elaborate festivals. The festivals come to a climax after a period of months during which each ritual is rigorously adhered to with its distinctive songs, dances, and special ceremonies which pertain to that festival.

The language has 17 vowels and 16 consonants, and a distinctive intonation pattern and lengthening of vowel to denote emphasis.”

SIL International is an international non-profit organization. Its primary objectives are to analyze indigenous languages and promote linguistically and culturally viable alphabets. SIL encourages the production of indigenous literature, and translates into those languages material of high cultural value. SIL cooperates with the government by offering bilingual and intercultural education for indigenous groups where linguistic research is in progress.

A webpage by Edward Fischer at Vanderbilt University gives more information about the  Kayapo, addressing their environmentalist efforts, as well as concerns that some Kayapo have been abusing their position as guardians of the forest.

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