Pacahuara facts for kids
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 227 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Bolivia |
|
| Languages | |
| Pacahuara language, Spanish | |
| Religion | |
| traditional tribal religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Chácobo |
The Pacahuara people are an indigenous people of Bolivia. This means they are one of the original groups of people who lived in Bolivia. A small group of Pacahuara people live in a community called Tujuré. This community is close to the Chácobo people near the Alto Ivón River in the Beni Department of Bolivia.
Currently, this specific group has only a few members. Another group of Pacahuara people, who have not had much contact with the outside world, are believed to live in the Pando Department of northeastern Bolivia. This area is near the border with Brazil. This group is thought to have about 50 members.
In the past, the Pacahuara tribe had two main smaller groups. These were known as the Sinabu and the Capuibo.
Contents
Pacahuara Population Today
The Pacahuara community living by the Alto Ivón River started to form between 1969 and 1971. This happened when missionaries from the Summer Institute of Linguistics worked to connect with the group. They helped a Pacahuara family move to Puerto Tujuré, which is in Chácobo territory. This family included a man, his two wives (sisters), and their seven children.
Since 1974, many reports have called this family "the last Pacahuaras." Two of the children from this family, Bose and Buca, married each other but did not have children. However, several of their brothers and sisters married people from the Chácobo group and had children. One sister also married two non-indigenous men and had a child with each. By mid-2016, there were 43 people who were descendants of this family.
More people identified as Pacahuara in Bolivia's 2012 Census. A total of 161 individuals said they were of this ethnic group. This increase might be because being Pacahuara has become more important in Bolivia, which now recognizes many different native groups. Sometimes, Chácobo relatives of the Pacahuaras, or whole communities where they live, now describe themselves as Pacahuaras.
Also, it is believed that five families of Pacahuaras live in voluntary isolation in the Pando Department. This means they choose to live apart from modern society.
Pacahuara Language
The language spoken by the Pacahuara people who have had contact with others is called Pacahuara. It is part of the Panoan language family, specifically a Bolivian Panoan language. This language is not written down.
There is another language called Pacaguara, which is an Arawakan language. It is not clear if the Pacahuara people ever spoke this Arawakan language, or if the similar name is just a coincidence.
There is also a list of Pacahuara words collected by someone named Castillo. This list has not yet been fully studied or classified. You can find more about it at Pacahuaras-Castillo.
Pacahuara Economy and Daily Life
The Pacahuara people get their food and income mainly from farming and gathering. They collect chestnuts and palm hearts from the forest. These items are very important for trading with other groups.
Chestnuts and palm hearts that are not traded are eaten by the Pacahuara people themselves. Chestnuts can also be used to make homemade soap. Palm hearts are a good source of protein, which helps them stay healthy.
Farming and Hunting
Their farming methods are simple. They grow crops like rice, corn, sugarcane, cassava (also known as yuca), and banana bachi.
Hunting and fishing are also very old traditions for the Pacahuara people. Even today, these activities are vital for them to get food and make a living. They also continue to gather various fruits from the forest.
See also
In Spanish: Pacahuaras para niños
