What did the Shuar believe in?
Shuar men believed that control of the muisak would enable them to control their wives’ and daughters’ labor. Since women cultivated manioc and made chicha (manioc beer), which together provided the bulk of calories and carbohydrates in the Shuar diet, women’s labor was crucial to Shuar biological and social life.
How are the rainforest resources used by the Jivaro people?
The Jivaro people developed a tropical-forest type of agriculture that has allowed them to grow different crops such as cassava, corn (maize), and sweet potatoes. To complement their diet, Jivaro fish, hunt, and gather fruits in the forest.
How do shrunken heads work?
An incision is made on the back of the ear and all the skin and flesh is removed from the cranium. Red seeds are placed underneath the nostrils and the lips are sewn shut. In the head shrinking tradition, it is believed that coating the skin in ash keeps the muisak, or avenging soul, from seeping out.
Where do the Shuar people live?
Ecuador
The Shuar belong to the Jivaroan ethno-linguistic group and live in the upper Amazonian region of Ecuador as well as in Peru. They are the second largest indigenous community in Ecuador.
Where do the Jivaro people live?
The 4,500 to 5,000 Jivaro proper live in a dense tropical rain forest en- vironment amidst the hilly terrain at the foot of the eastern slope of the Ecuadorian Andes. The main source of food is shifting horticulture, with sweet manioc the chief crop. Hunting and fishing also have important roles in the economy.
Who are the Shuar people of Ecuador and Peru?
The Shuar are an indigenous people of Ecuador and Peru. They are members of the Jivaroan peoples, who are Amazonian tribes living at the headwaters of the Marañón River . Shuar, in the Shuar language, means “people.”
Where did the Shuar indigenous people come from?
The Shuar indigenous people can be traced back 2,500 years ago. They are characterized by their territory, language, race, culture and warrior practices. They were a large population inhabiting the southwestern part of the Ecuadorian Amazon adjacent to the Peruvian border in the provinces of Pastaza, Morona Santiago and Zamora Chinchipe.
What was the Shuar culture like before missionization?
Prior to missionization in the 1940s and 1950s Shuar culture functioned to organize and promote a warrior society. Boys of about eight years would be taken by their fathers or uncles on a three- to five-day journey to a nearby waterfall, during which time the boy would drink only tobacco water.
How did the Centros help the Shuar people?
Centros initially facilitated evangelization by Catholic missionaries but also became a means to defend Shuar land claims against those of non-indigenous settlers. In 1964 representatives of Shuar centros formed a political Federation to represent their interests to the state, non-governmental organizations, and transnational corporations.