Machinere

Who are the Machinere?

The Machinere are an Indigenous people whose communities are found in Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru. They are united by their shared language, Machinere, which belongs to the Arawakan family, and by common traditions of subsistence and land use. Most Machinere live in the Mamoadate Indigenous Territory in Brazil, with smaller groups along the Acre River in Bolivia and in Peru. Their identity is closely tied to their homeland and their traditional ways of living from the land.

Where do the Machinere live?

The Machinere homeland centers on the Acre River, which flows through the border region of Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru. In Brazil, they mostly reside in the Mamoadate Indigenous Territory and also in the Chico Mendes Extractivist Reserve, both in Acre state. This region is characterized by tropical forests and rivers, providing resources for hunting, fishing, and farming.

What language do the Machinere speak?

The Machinere speak their own language, also called Machinere, which is part of the Arawakan language family. The language is a key part of their identity and connects them to related groups such as the Mashco-Piro and Yine. The current state of the language is not detailed in the sources, but it remains in use among the community.

How do the Machinere live?

Machinere people make their living through a mix of hunting, fishing, and swidden farming. Swidden, or shifting cultivation, involves clearing small plots of forest for crops, then letting the land recover. Their main crops include maize, manioc, rice, papaya, peanut, pumpkin, sugarcane, and sweet potato. The forests and rivers provide game and fish, which are important in their diet. Their homes and tools are adapted to life in the forested river region.

How is Machinere society organised?

The sources do not provide detailed information on Machinere social organization, family structure, or leadership. However, as with many Indigenous groups in the region, social life is likely organized around extended families and community cooperation in farming, hunting, and fishing.

What do the Machinere believe?

There is no specific information in the sources about Machinere religious beliefs, rituals, or artistic traditions. Their connection to the land and traditional practices likely play a role in their worldview and cultural expressions.

The history of the Machinere

The Machinere have long lived in the border regions of Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru, especially along the Acre River. Over time, they have maintained their language and subsistence practices despite pressures from outside settlement and land use changes. In Brazil, the creation of Indigenous territories such as Mamoadate has helped protect some of their land, though the sources do not detail the full extent of historical challenges faced.

Machinere life today

Today, the Machinere number about 1,200 people, with most living in Brazil's Acre state. Some also live in Bolivia and Peru. They continue to rely on hunting, fishing, and farming, though their land and way of life face pressures from outside development. Their language and traditions remain important to their identity.

Questions people ask about the Machinere

Sources and further reading

• Machinere on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data

This page was written with AI assistance from the sources above and checked automatically before publishing. It may contain mistakes, and it is no substitute for hearing from the Machinere themselves. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-02.