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This is the morning sun on the Maici River, a tributary of
the Madeira River located in Northwest Brazil. The Piraha live along the Maici
River. They are a semi nomadic tribe, moving up and down the Maici in small groups
or as single family units. It was reported that the Piraha were first contacted in
1741, at which time their population was estimated to be approximately 50,000. The
Piraha now number between 200 and 250. |
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The village on the left depicts a Piraha settlement built
high on the bank of the river which will be used during the rainy season. The
settlement on the right was constructed during the dry season on an exposed sandy
beach of the Maici when the water level of the river was much lower. |
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The Piraha use the bow and arrow to hunt small game and to
fish. Both men and women help in making the bows and the arrows. On the
right is a Piraha woman fashioning fibrous bark materials into string for the bow. |
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During the full moon cycle, the Piraha participate in a
ritual. Tribal members will walk in a circle, chanting the entire night. Some
participants believe they are possessed by spirits and will assume the spirit's
identity. The man on the far left is possessed by a female spirit; during the
all-night ritual he spoke and chanted in a falsetto voice. He will not remember his
own behavior after the ritual, nor will he be held accountable for his
behavior while possessed by the spirit. |
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These are examples of individual family homes built on the
edge of the river. These structures have no walls, a platform made of cut branches
to sit and sleep on, and large palm fronds form the roof. |
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Pictured to the left are Piraha children
playing in a cleared field near the village. To the right is a young boy on his way
to sharpen his skills with the bow and arrow. |
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