Makuna Tribe- Eastern Colombia Amazon - # - THOMAS L. KELLY

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Mukuna people referred to as the Water People paddle the Apaporis River in the Vaupes area.

The Mukuna Indians live in the Vaupes region of eastern Columbia where dense rainforests crowd the headwaters of the Amazon. They believe that their ancestors were fish people who emerged in the form of anacondas from the Water Doorway east of their world, hence they refer to themselves as “The Water People.”
Mukuna family life. The Mukuna view themselves as a group of clans united by intermarriage. Traditionally, each clan inhabits a longhouse ñ malocca-with its own headman.

Mukuna often domisticate wild birds as pets.

Domesticated Macaw parrot.

Mukuna kids at Elementary school built for the Mukuna by the missionaries in the Vaupes area.

Mukuna boys are initiated at a young age in how to create the ritual costumes worn for the annual peach palm festival. The tree bark strips are made into grass, pounded flat and sewn into shirts and masks. Tree resin is cooked and mixed with urucum seeds before applying in to decorate the costumes.

Mukuna man creates the ritual costumes worn for the annual peach palm festival. The tree bark strips are made into grass, pounded flat and sewn into shirts and masks. Tree resin is cooked and mixed with urucum seeds before applying in to decorate the costumes.

Makuna people preparing for the Spirit Dance.

As the spirit dancers glide through their moves they are joined by the women, demonstrating the male-female union of fertitlity and longevity. The dancers eventually approach a bowl of peach palm drink guided by Mukuna women. Women are considered the ultimate masters of life, not only are they the procreators of new generations of clan members, but also the ‘mothers’ of the cultivated plants. Every women fulfils in her life the procreative role of the Ancestral Mother, the female creator of the world and the mother of all plants.

Mukuna people referred to as the Water People paddle the Apaporis River in the Vaupes area.

Mukuna people referred to as the Water People paddle the Apaporis River in the Vaupes area.

Mukuna people referred to as the Water People paddle the Apaporis River in the Vaupes area.

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Keywords: amazon tribal south america fisher man makuna tribe vaupes basin eastern colombia amazon tribal life

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