Zápara People facts for kids
The Sápara people, also known as Zápara or Sáparos, are a native group from the Amazon rainforest. They lived near the borders of Peru and Ecuador long before the Spanish arrived. Their special stories and ways of speaking are so important that UNESCO called them an "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity." Since 2009, the Sápara people have been recognized as a Nation within Ecuador.
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Where Do the Sápara People Live?
About 480 Sápara people live in a large area of the Amazon. This land is about 400,000 hectares big. It is located between the Conambo and Pinduyacu rivers, and also between the Curaray and Napo rivers. Much of their land is inside the Yasuni National Park in Ecuador.
There are also about 100 Sápara people living in Peru. They live in two towns called Arabelas and Iquitos, near the Tigre river. The Sápara people are the smallest native group in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
How Many Sápara People Are There?
The number of Sápara people has become much smaller over time. In the 1500s, there were about 200,000 Sápara people. Today, there are fewer than 500. In Ecuador, they live in towns like Kuitza (Llanchamacocha), Aremano (Jandiayacu), Mazaraka (Mazaramu), Cuyacocha, and Akamaru.
What Is Sápara Culture Like?
In the Kichwa language, Záparo means a basket made from a "bejuco." A bejuco is a type of woody vine found in tropical areas. However, in the Sápara language, Sápara means "person of the forest." The name of their Nation was changed to Sápara because the "Z" sound is not used in their language.
The Sápara people believe that their land, language, and spiritual beliefs are the most important parts of who they are. They often wear vests made from the bark of the Llanchama tree and headdresses with feathers.
Sápara Identity and Neighbors
Some Sápara people have married people from other tribes. These tribes include the Kichwa, Shuar, and Achuar. Even so, these people still see themselves as Sápara.
Sometimes, people confuse the Sápara with their neighbors. This happens because many young Sápara people speak Kichwa. Also, there are very few Sápara people left. In the 1970s, some even thought the Sápara had disappeared in Ecuador. In Peru, many people did not know about them until 2001.
What Do Sápara People Believe?
The Sápara people do not have a set religion. Their stories and beliefs come from the world around them. Dreams are very important to them. They also believe that Amazonian animals have a special spiritual role. These beliefs help them make decisions.
In the 1900s, missionaries came to the rainforest. They wanted to teach native people about Christianity. However, the Sápara people did not accept these new ideas. Even when speaking Spanish, some Sápara leaders avoid words related to Western ideas, like the word "devil."
What Language Do Sápara People Speak?
Zaparoan, or Saparoan, is a group of languages. This group includes five separate languages: Coronado, Omurano, Andoa, Gae, and Záparo. Many tribes that are now gone used to speak Zaparoan languages.
Today, only a few Zaparoan languages are still spoken. These are Iquitos, Sabela, and Záparo. About 500 people in Peru speak Iquitos. The Sabela dialect is spoken by about 100 people in Ecuador.
The Záparo Language Today
In Ecuador, only 9 Sápara elders, who are over 60 years old, still speak the Záparo language. Most Sápara people speak Kichwa as their main language. Kichwa is the largest native language in South America. In the 1900s, Sápara people also started to learn Spanish.
Why Is Sápara Culture Protected?
Ecuador and Peru suggested that the Sápara language and culture should be protected. They asked for it to be added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In November 2008, the UNESCO committee agreed to this declaration.
How Is the Sápara Nation Organized?
The Sápara people became the Zápara Nationality of Ecuador in 2003. At first, their organization, NAZAE, represented four towns: Llanchamacocha, Jandiayacu, Mazaramu, and one family in Cuyacocha. Since 2005, the Nation also includes the towns of Shiona, Pindoyacu, Balsaura, and San José del Curaray.
In 2009, the Sápara people were officially recognized as the Sápara Nation (NASE). This recognition came from important groups like the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONFENIAE) and the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE). Because they are a recognized Nation, the Sápara Nation became part of the Development Council of Nationalities and Peoples of Ecuador (CODENPE).
What Challenges Do the Sápara Face?
The Sápara population became smaller because of diseases, forced moves, and slavery. Diseases brought by rubber companies and missionaries greatly reduced their numbers. The Sápara people were also separated when their land was divided in 1941 during the war between Ecuador and Peru.
The Sápara Nation has asked for important rights. These include health care and education in both their native language and Spanish. They also want the Government of Ecuador to help keep their language alive. The Sápara are worried about owning the land they have lived on for centuries. They also want to protect their environment from oil, timber, and medicine companies.
How Do Sápara People Make a Living?
Historically, the Sápara people were fishers, hunters, gatherers, and farmers. In the 1940s, some Sápara started moving to cities for school and work. Sápara men were also called to join the Army. They left their communities to work for the Shell Oil Company and on large farms.
Around 2007, men often went to the Ecuadorian coast to work for construction companies. Meanwhile, women stayed in the villages. They took care of the children, managed the house, and farmed. Because of these moves, most Sápara men have learned Spanish.
How Do Sápara Children Learn?
Sápara people have two main ways of getting an education. One is the regular school system. The other is the Intercultural Bilingual Education System, run by the Ecuadorian government. Some Sápara children move to cities to attend high schools where they learn in Spanish. Others go to schools in their villages where they learn in Kichwa.
