ethnography table:yanomami

7/28/2019 Ethnography Table:Yanomami

1/6

Stephany Hinojosa March 7, 2011HIST 3368I Dr. Joaqun Rivaya-Martnez

English Term(s) IndigenousTerm(s) &literalmeaning

Comments Primary source Secondarysource

Name Most common Yanomamo Human being Chagnon 1968: 4Other names Yanomami,

YanoamoChagnon 1968: 4

Location Present-daycountry

Brazil/Venezuela Chagnon 1968: 4

Present-dayregion(s)

South AmericanRainforest

Chagnon 1968: 4

Language Language Gycan 27dialects Chagnon 1968: 6Linguistic family unknown Chagnon 1968: 6Type nasal Chagnon 1968: 6Literacy No written

languageChagnon 1968: 6

Population Total 20.000 11k inVenezuela, 9k inBrazil

Albert 1981: 637

By subgroups Varies Albert 1981: 637% children (


2/6




Dependence onhunting

Big dependence Chagnon 1968:24

Dependence onfarming

Gardens set up, prefer foraging

Chagnon 1968:24

Trading partners Neighboringvillages

Chagnon 1968:24

Items traded Pots, machetes,tobacco,

basket,etc

Chagnon 1973

In exchange for Anything(barter)

Followed rule of food for food,tool for tool

Chagnon 1968:24

Production Food Bananas, sweet potato,

Chagnon 1968:24

Lodges shabono Chagnon 1968:24

Clothing Dont wear clothes

Chagnon 1973

Tools Bow&arrow, Chagnon 1968:24

Divison of Labor

By sex Women gather and garden; Menhunt

Chagnon1968:32

Specialization(roles/professions)

Only men areshaman

Chagnon 1968:62

Kinship Type Patrilineal Chagnon1968:40

2


3/6




Relevantterminologies

mashi - peoplewho are related

patrilineally

Chagnon1968:40

FamilyOrganization &Life Cycle

Type of family Polygamous/Monogamous

Chagnon1968:42

Marriage ritual none Chagnon1968:42

Mode of marriage

Bride-serviceand sister exchange

Chagnon1968:42

Maritalresidence

Patrilocal Chagnon1968:43

Preferredspouse(s)

Cross-cousin Chagnon1968:42

Number of spouses

Average 3 Chagnon1968:43

Age transitionrites (of passage)

Menarche yobomou Isolation fromothers;transformation

Chagnon1968:48

Inheritance none Belongings are burned with person

Chagnon1968:66

Religion &Worldview

Religion type Shamanistic Chagnon1968:44

Conceptualization of reality

World divided in4 planes

Duku ka misi, Hedu ka mis, Hei ka misi, Heita bebi -

3


4/6




underworld Supernatural

being(s)Spirits Hekura spirit,

Amahi-teri evil spirit

Chagnon1968:42

Acquisition of supernaturalforce

Go into trancewithhallucinogenicsnuff

Yopo - drug Chagnon1968:44

Priest Shaman Chagnon1968:40

Evil shamanism Caused byshamans of other villages

Chagnon1968:40

Paramountreligiousceremony

reahu Ashes mixedwith plantain

puree and eaten

Chagnon1968:48

Healing rituals Exorcism Caused by other shamans; evilspirit must betaken out thatattacks persons

personal spirit

Chagnon1968:44

Afterworld Earth-like,except men&women areyoung and

beautiful,hunting is better,and food tastes

hedu ka mis Chagnon1968:42

4


5/6




better Funereal

practicesCremation Chagnon

1968:42Bereavement

practicesendocannbalism r eahu Chagnon

1968:42Taboos Incest Ferguson 1995:

90Socialstratification

Type Egalitarian Even headmanhelps out

Chagnon 1968:40

Leadership Type(s) Band Albert 1989: 637Election and/or appointment

Appointment Usually comesfrom largestkinship group

Albert 1989: 637

Qualities soughtin leader

Wise, fierce,smart

Albert 1989: 637

Functions Peace-keeper Albert 1989: 637Warfare Type(s) Raiding Albert 1989: 638

Rationalization[allegedreasons(s)]

Refuse trade,kinshipdisrespect

No real reason,revenge

Albert 1989: 638

Warpath behavior

Rape and stealwomen, kill

Ferguson1995:34

Weapons Bow and arrow Albert 1989: 637Enemies Enemy villages Albert 1989: 637

Internal conflict Causes adultery, failureto deliver a

betrothedwoman, personal

Ferguson1995:56

5


6/6




affronts,stinginess, or theft

Frequency All the time Ferguson1995:40

Resolution None; draw Ferguson1995:40

Calendar(s) No concept of time

Chagnon1968:34

HistoricalSketch

Geographicorigin &Prehistoricarchaeologicalculture

Near start of Orinoco River;not much haschanged

Alleged 20,000old indigenousgroup

Fausto 2000: 933

First contact(s)with Euro-Americans

1951 Christianmissionaries

Chagnon 1968: 4

6

ethnography table:yanomami

Documents