Araona people facts for kids

The Araona people are an interesting group of people living in Bolivia. In 2012, about 228 Araona people were counted. They speak their own special language called Araona language. While 711 people speak Araona, many also speak Spanish. The Araona people live in the northern part of Bolivia, near the Manupari river. It can be tricky to study the Araona people separately from other groups who speak similar languages, like the Cavineño people, because they have mixed a lot over time.

A Look at Their History

The first time anyone wrote about the Araona people was in January 1867. Two missionaries, Manuel Mancini and Fidel Codenach, wrote about them. However, they found it too difficult and risky to set up a mission in the Araona area. At that time, the Araona were the largest group of people in that region.

Later, in the late 1800s, many Araona people, like other native groups, were forced to leave their homes. They were made to work as slaves in the rubber industry. This was a very hard time for them. The Araona who survived settled in different places between the Manorimi and Monopare Rivers.

In 1965, a group called SIL International, which helps people learn and write languages, worked with the Araona communities. They helped the Araona set up a lasting settlement and connect with other native groups.

See also

In Spanish: Araonas para niños