Kanamari in Brazil

Introduction / History

The Kanamari call themselves Tukuna, a word that means "people."
Their lives are deeply connected to the land and rivers and they carry a story marked by migration and resistance.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Hunting and fishing are their main activities. They are a festive people who celebrate their connection with the universe. During these celebrations, they sing and drink rami (ayahuasca), the sacred vine they believe connects them to the spiritual world and the collective history of their people.
The Kanamari are divided into subgroups named after animals with the suffix -dyapa. These subgroups used to be associated with specific rivers and streams. They know the names of many subgroups but say there may be more within their territory.
During the dry season, they perform rituals, especially those that end the mourning period and welcome the spirits of the dead. During the rainy season, small trips to collect wild fruits are common, but they stay closer to their home villages, hunt and eat with close relatives, avoiding contact with neighboring or distant villages.

What Are Their Beliefs?

They follow shamanic rituals and believe strongly in the powers of nature and their ancestors. The presence of the dead in their rituals is sacred to them.

What Are Their Needs?

They still fight for the protection of their territory and culture.

Prayer Points

Pray that this tribe will come to know the Lord of nature whom they worship, and that idols and spirits will bow to God.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal Himself to them so they can know The Way.
Pray that missionaries will go to them, preach, make disciples, and love these people.

Text Source:   Joshua Project