 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
 Brazil Venezuela | |
| Brazil | 430[1] |
| Venezuela | 6,250[2] |
| Languages | |
| Yeꞌkuana language | |
| Religion | |
| Animism | |
TheYeꞌkuana, also calledYeꞌkwana, YeꞌKuana, Yekuana, Yequana, Yecuana, Dekuana, Maquiritare, Makiritare, Soꞌto andMaiongong, are aCariban-speaking tropical rain-forest tribe who live in theCaura River andOrinoco River regions ofVenezuela inBolivar State andAmazonas State. InBrazil, they inhabit the northeast ofRoraima State.In Venezuela, the Yeꞌkuana live alongside their former enemies, theSanumá (Yanomami subgroup).
When the Yeꞌkuana wish to refer to themselves, they use the wordSoꞌto, which can be translated as "people", "person".Yeꞌkuana, in turn, can be translated as "canoe people", "people of the canoes"[3] or even "people of the branch in the river".
They live in communal houses calledatta orëttë. The circular structure has a cone-shaped roof made of palm leaves. Building the atta is considered a spiritual activity in which the group reproduces the great cosmic home of the Creator.
The first reference to the Yeꞌkuana was in 1744 by aJesuit priest called Manuel Román in his travels to investigate the existence of theCasiquiare canal.[4] He recruited the services of the Yeꞌkuana to help him on his way.
TheAlto Orinoco-Casiquiare Biosphere Reserve was established by the Venezuelan government in 1993 with the objective of preserving the traditional territory and lifestyle of theYanomami and Yeꞌkuana peoples.[5]There are some 6,250 Yeꞌkuana in Venezuela, according to the 2001 census, with some 430 in Brazil.
Jean Liedloff came into contact with the Yeꞌkuana in the 1950s, while working as a photographer for Italian diamond-hunters, and in subsequent personal visits. She based her bookThe Continuum Concept: In Search of Happiness Lost on their way of life, particularly the upbringing of their children. Liedloff noted the stark contrast between the treatment of Western and Yeꞌkuana infants, who are normally held "in-arms" 24 hours a day by their mothers and by other familiar adults and children who take care of them.[6]
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