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Who are the indigenous peoples of the Amazon?

The Amazon basin is home to several hundred indigenous peoples, often estimated at around 400, spread across Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. They include the Yanomami, Kayapó, Tikuna, Asháninka and Shuar. The region also has most of the world's uncontacted peoples.

Amazonian peoples speak languages from many families, including Tupi, Arawak, Carib, Jê and Pano, along with several isolates. Most live by a mix of gardening, fishing, hunting and gathering, and many also farm for market, work for wages or live in towns.

Brazil's 2022 census counted about 1.7 million indigenous people in the country, with roughly half living in the Amazon region. Brazil has about 300 indigenous peoples. The Tikuna, who also live in Colombia and Peru, are among the largest in the Brazilian Amazon.

The Yanomami live in the forests on the border of Brazil and Venezuela. The Kayapó live in the southern Amazon in Brazil. The Asháninka are one of the largest peoples of the Peruvian Amazon, and the Shuar live in Ecuador and Peru.

Recognised indigenous territories cover a large part of the Amazon, and satellite studies show they generally have less deforestation than surrounding areas. The main threats are illegal mining, logging, ranching, land invasion and large dams and roads, which also bring disease and violence.

Words used here

TerritoryUncontacted peoplesHorticultureLand rightsLanguage familyLand grab

Sources

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