The Uncontacted Tribes
of South America

Even with the rapid destruction of the rain forest that we all here about, there are still vast tracks of virgin rain forest left, and reports of uncontacted tribals. Some of these tribes have chosen to remain hidden as any contact they have had with outsiders has been violent. There is continuning encroachment on their traditional lands by the timber industry, and miners, and by others.

Brazil

The Awa Guaja: A nomadic people believed to number between 200 to 300. There are reports of massacres at the hands of ranchers and others. According to National Geographic, the last time that they were contacted was in 1997.

Javari Valley: According to National Geogrphic, the Javari valley on the border with Peru has the highest concentration of uncontacted people in the Amazon. Reuters reports that their are at least three unknown tribes in the valley. Nobody is really sure how many uncontacted individuals there are. In 1997, Brazil stated that it has plans to set aside 20.5 million acres as an Indian reserve. There has been, of course, widespread opposition by many Brazilians who believe that the land should be available to all citizens, and who don't understand why so much land should be set aside for so few. For more information visit: http://forests.org/gopher/brazil/Javalle.txt

The Korubo: One of the tribes living in the Javari valley is the Korubo. They have been hostile towards all outsiders. There as been history of harrasment and killings at the hands of loggers. Reuters reports that in 1996 Sidney Possuelo from Brazil's National Indian Foundation (FUNAI) made the first peaceful contact with Korubo. They have a population believed to be of 200-300 individuals. For more information visit: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/96/contact/index.html

Ava Canoeiro: Very few of the Ava Canoeiro survive. FUNAI believes that their may still be 12 individuals hiding in the jungle. Their territory is threatened by a dam that will flood the entire area. For more information visit: http://www.ainfos.ca/A-Infos96/6/0134.html

Rondonia State: There are believed to be uncontacted tribals in Rondonia state. They are at risk from development projects.

Nahua. Reported to be threatened by planned road projects through the state of Arce. The roads will help the lumber industry harvest hardwood. Both Mobil and Shell have concessions in Arce.

Others: U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT states that another contacted tribe was spotted from the air by FUNAI officals. There is virtually nothing known about its customs and language. There are no known photographs of them. FUNAI has no plans to make contact. For more information visit: http://www.csmonitor.com/durable/1998/07/10/p1s4.htm
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/980720/20out1.htm

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Peru

Kugapakori: Very little information available about them. They number about 300 and a few sub groups are believed to be uncontacted.

Other groups: The Morunahua, the Paruenahua, and the Pisabo are isolated groups in Peru with no permanent contact

Colombia

The Carabayo (Karabayo): They number about 200 and live between the Caqueta and Putumayo Rivers. They are hostile to outsiders.

The Yurumi live in the headwaters of the Miriti-Parana.

The Carijona There are still sub-groups living near the Mesa del Iguaje which have not had contact.

The Macusa are small isolated groups of hunter gatherers.

Othergroups live around the upper Yari River. Very little information is available on them.

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Ecuador

The Waorani nearly all have had peaceful contact with the outside world and even have their own web site (http://www.waorani.com/). A small group, however, known as the Tag-eri have refused contact. They are threatened by oil projects.

Paraguay

The Ayoreo have mostly been settled by missionaries, but their are still a few in the Chaco region of Bolivia and Paraguay that have not been contacted. There traditional territory is being encroached upon all sides by settlers and ranchers. Due to these constant encroachments, they are aware of non-indigenous outsiders, but choose to remain hidden from them.

Bolivia

Sinabo/Kapuibo: live between the lower Beni and Lower Yata. Some sources question their existence. If they do exists, their numbers are thought to be less than 200.

Yanaigua live between the Rio Grande and Upper San Miguel and number between 100 to 200. These hunter-gatherers are thought by some to be a sub-group of the Tupi-Guarani.

Guyana

The Wapishana: Numbering around 100 individuals, they are an isolated segment of the Wapishana group that refuse contact. They live between the Essequibo and Tacutu.

Others: there are reports of isolated groups numbering less than 100 between the Upper Courantyne and the New River. Some believe that they are related to the Tiriyo.

French Guiana

The Wayapi: an isolated group is reported to be living between the Eureupoucine and Upper Camopi that refuses all contact. They number around 100.

Suriname

The Akulio: One last uncontacted sub group of the Akulio is believed to be living between th sources of the Itani and Jari. They are believed to number around 50 individuals.

Venezuela

The Yanomami are perhaps the best known of South America's isolated tribes. Some believe that there are still around 250 of them who have not been contacted, but this is questionable. The uncontacted groups do interact with the contacted groups, but choose to remain hidden from the outside world.

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