Kayapo facts for kids
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 8,638 (2010) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Brazil (Mato Grosso, Pará) |
|
| Languages | |
| Kayapo language |
The Kayapo people are an indigenous people in Brazil. They live in a large area across the states of Pará and Mato Grosso. This land is south of the Amazon River and along the Xingu River. Because of where they live, they are sometimes called the Xingu tribe.
The Kayapo are part of a bigger group called the Mebêngôkre nation. This name means "people from the water's source." The name "Kayapo" was given to them by other groups. The Kayapo call people from outside their group "Poanjos."
A type of sweet potato important to the Kayapo diet is sometimes called "caiapo." This sweet potato is grown in Japan and is known for its health benefits.
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Where Do the Kayapo Live?
The Kayapo tribe lives along the Xingu River. This area is in the eastern part of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. Their villages can have from 100 to 1,000 people.
Their land includes tropical rainforest and savannah (grassland). It is one of the largest protected areas in the world. It covers over 11 million hectares. This huge area is home to many endangered animals and plants. The land has small hills and many river valleys. Larger rivers flow into pools and creeks.
In 2018, there were about 8,638 Kayapo people. This was an increase from 7,096 people in 2003. Some Kayapo subgroups are the Xikrin, Gorotire, Mekranoti, and Metyktire.
Kayapo villages usually have about a dozen huts. A central hut is used as a meeting place. Here, the men of the village discuss community matters.
What Does "Kayapo" Mean?
The name "Kayapo" (also spelled Caiapó or Kaiapó) came from neighboring peoples in the early 1800s. It means "those who look like monkeys." This name might come from a Kayapo men's ritual. In this ritual, they wear monkey masks.
The Kayapo people in one village call themselves Mebêngôkre. This means "the men from the water hole." Other names for them include Gorotire, Kararaô, Kuben-Kran-Krên, Kôkraimôrô, Mekrãgnoti, Metyktire, and Xikrin.
How Do Kayapo People Look?
The Kayapo use detailed black body paint. It covers their whole bodies. They believe their ancestors learned social skills from insects. So, they paint their bodies to look like insects. This helps them connect with the Spirit that is everywhere.
The black body paint also helps them hide in the forest when they hunt. To find their way, they paint their legs with red pigment. This rubs off on the ground, leaving a trail. The colors a Kayapo wears show which tribe they belong to.
Kayapo Men's Appearance
Older Kayapo men wear disks in their lower lips. This practice is less common among younger men. Men decorate their hair with feathers that spread out like rays. These feathers represent the universe. Kayapo men also wear rope in their hair. This represents the rope the first Kayapo used to come from the sky.
Traditionally, Kayapo men cover their lower bodies with sheaths. Today, many Kayapo wear Western-style clothes, like shorts. This is because they have more contact with outside cultures. Kayapo chiefs wear a headdress made of bright yellow feathers. These feathers represent the sun's rays. The feathers come from local birds like the hyacinth macaw and crested oropendola. The birds in the Amazon have naturally bright colors. The Kayapo do not dye the feathers.
Kayapo Children's Appearance
Kayapo children wear cloth or beaded bands. The colors of these bands represent their tribes. These bands are usually tied below the waist or crossed around the body. When a child becomes older, they have a naming ceremony. During this ceremony, they wear large yellow headdresses.
Kayapo Women's Appearance
Kayapo women can be recognized by a V-shape shaved into their hair.
Kayapo Language and Communication
The Kayapo speak the Kayapo language. This language belongs to the Jê language family. They are divided into many groups, so they have different dialects of their language.
The Kayapo value speaking well. They call themselves "those who speak beautifully" (Kaben mei). They believe this sets them apart from other indigenous groups. Beauty is very important in Kayapo culture. A beautiful name is seen as a sign of wealth.
For a naming ceremony, the tribe might move their camp. They do this to find enough food for the celebration. This food is then given to the father of the newborn. Sometimes, Kayapo men speak in a special way during certain events. It sounds like someone is punching them in the stomach.
The Kayapo have different levels of knowledge of Portuguese. This depends on the group and how much they have met outsiders.
Protecting Kayapo Land and the Environment
The Kayapo have many traditional stories and rituals. These show how important the earth is to their people. For the last 30 years, their forest home has been in danger. This danger comes from mining and logging companies. These activities threaten to destroy the rainforest and the Kayapo way of life.
Challenges from Mining
In the village of Gorotire, the Kayapo made a deal with gold miners. Mining could happen if the Kayapo received a share of the money. Also, their land needed to be clearly marked. At first, gold mining seemed good. It brought money into the local economy. This money helped improve housing, education, and health.
However, mining also caused a lot of pollution. Mercury from mining got into the rivers. This harmed fish populations. The increased contact with outsiders also changed social habits. This led to more diseases, which was a big problem for the Kayapo. They live in remote areas and have limited access to doctors. Also, fewer natural resources caused problems between the Kayapo and nearby villages.
The Kayapo have used strong actions to remove loggers and miners from some areas. They also worked to become an economic force.
Fighting Against Dams
In 1987, new land problems arose. The government planned to build several large dams on the Xingu River. One of these was the Belo Monte Dam. These dams were a big threat to the Kayapo. They could force over 20,000 people to leave their homes.
Under the leadership of Paulinho Paiakan, the Kayapo organized the Altamira Gathering. This event brought worldwide media attention. The protest happened at the planned dam site in Altamira, Pará. It lasted several days. This put a lot of pressure on the World Bank and the Brazilian government.
The Altamira Gathering brought together the Kayapo and other Brazilian Indigenous Peoples. They discussed how to protect the environment and native peoples. The Kayapo demanded information that the government was hiding. This information was about the negative effects of the dam on their people. They also felt that rural Brazilians in the Xingu River area were not getting fair information.
The Kayapo continued to fight. They used traditional war speeches and dances. They showed they could use the media to share their message. A powerful image from this event was Tuíra, a female Indigenous leader. She angrily waved a machete at an engineer. This image had a big impact around the world. It likely helped delay the dam project.
Famous Supporters
The rock star Sting also appeared at the protest. He continued to support the Kayapo's efforts to protect their land. In 1989, he started the Rainforest Foundation Fund. Three years later, this fund helped mark the first privately funded Indigenous reserve in Brazil.
In 2008, the Kayapo faced threats again. The government had secret plans to build more dams on their land. The Belo Monte Dam project came up again. It would be built on the Xingu River, which is home to many Kayapo people. The Kayapo people continue to fight these construction plans.
Government problems sometimes make it harder for Indigenous groups to resist. Kayapo leaders who protest the dam are often threatened. Some have been harmed by developers and land prospectors.
Why the Forest is Important
The forest is the Kayapo's home. They depend on it for food and medicine. Rivers are also vital to their way of life. Gold mining pollutes these rivers. The proposed Belo Monte Dam project would use a lot of resources. This would harm the Kayapo's survival and fishing.
The dam's construction would create many jobs. This could lead to a large increase in people moving to the area. This would put more pressure on the forest and its resources. It could also increase flooding and deforestation.
Kayapo Farming and Plants
The Kayapo use their land in a way that does not harm nature. However, they need a very large area of land. The Kayapo practice shifting cultivation. This is a type of farming where land is used for a few years. Then, the people move to a new area. The old farm is left alone to recover.
The Kayapo often use the slash and burn method. This means they cut down and burn forest areas to clear land for farming. These new fields produce most crops for two or three years. But they can keep producing for many more years. For example, sweet potatoes for four to five years, and manioc for four to six years. Old fields are important for growing medicinal plants.
The Kayapo also planted crops along trails and in "forest fields." These were clearings in the forest that needed little care. They also had "war gardens." These were hidden plots used for food when supplies were low.
The Kayapo use about 250 different food plants. They also use 650 different medicinal plants found near their villages.
They also have trade agreements with The Body Shop.
See also
In Spanish: Kayapó para niños
- Raoni Metuktire, Kayapo chief and environmentalist
- Terra preta, dark, fertile artificial soil found in the Amazon Basin
