Wapishana

Who are the Wapishana?

The Wapishana are an Indigenous people whose homeland spans the northern savannas of Brazil and southern Guyana. Their identity is rooted in their language, Wapishana, and their shared traditions of farming, cattle raising, and communal living. They maintain strong village ties, with decisions often made collectively. Their society is shaped by both traditional practices and adaptations to changing circumstances, including interactions with neighboring groups and national governments. Despite pressures from outside, the Wapishana continue to value their language, customs, and communal way of life.

Where do the Wapishana live?

The Wapishana live mainly in the Roraima region of northern Brazil and the southern Rupununi savannas of Guyana. In Brazil, their villages are found in the Serra da Lua region between the Branco and Tacutu rivers, and some mixed communities exist along the lower Uraricoera River. In Guyana, their villages are located between the Takutu, Rupununi, and Kwitaro rivers, near the Kanuku Mountains. Their land is mostly open savanna, with some forested areas and rivers, supporting both farming and cattle raising.

What language do the Wapishana speak?

Wapishana is an Arawakan language and the only remaining Arawakan language in the circum-Roraima area. Many Wapishana are bilingual, speaking Portuguese in Brazil or English in Guyana, especially in urban or mixed communities. Most Wapishana can speak the national language of their country, and it is common for people living near the border to speak both Portuguese and English, as well as Wapishana.

How do the Wapishana live?

The Wapishana make their living mainly through farming, especially growing cassava, which is processed into flour and flatbreads. They also farm sweet potatoes, squashes, greens, and peppers, and raise cattle, pigs, chickens, and ducks. Hunting and fishing are important, with men hunting game and the whole family fishing. Wapishana men craft stools, baskets, and tools for food preparation, while women make clay pots and weave cotton into slings and hammocks. Some crafts and foods are traded for cash to buy goods.

How is Wapishana society organised?

Wapishana villages are permanent and usually centered around a church, with government-built schools and meeting houses. Decisions are made in community meetings, and social life often includes soccer games. Households are typically nuclear families with a grandparent, and leaders may have larger homes surrounded by their children's families. Traditionally, men have authority over household labor. Marriages are usually monogamous and Catholic, though divorce is not rare. The Wapishana do not believe in private land ownership and assign house and garden space flexibly.

What do the Wapishana believe?

Traditional beliefs include animism and the role of healers who use rituals to cure or, in some accounts, harm. Some healing practices now blend Catholic and local traditions. The concept of kanaima, a malevolent spirit or healer, is still part of Wapishana explanations for illness and death. Prized possessions are buried with the dead for use in the afterlife. Christianity, especially Catholicism, is now widespread, with catechists leading services in many villages.

The history of the Wapishana

The Wapishana first came into indirect contact with Europeans in the late 15th century through trade networks. Portuguese slave raids and settlement along the Branco River in Brazil forced the Wapishana southward. By the late 1700s, some were brought to work at Portuguese forts. Over time, their settlements shifted from temporary clusters to permanent villages. In Brazil, government and rancher influence has shaped village life, while in Guyana, villages are more remote and have different administrative structures. Relationships with neighboring groups, especially the Macushi, have often been marked by suspicion, though mixed marriages now occur.

Wapishana life today

Today, the Wapishana number about 15,500, with most living in Brazil and Guyana. In Brazil, their villages often include non-Wapishana residents, and Portuguese is widely spoken. In Guyana, Amerindian villages are recognized as administrative units, but Wapishana still face challenges in health and education. Their land is under pressure, and traditional ways are changing, but many continue to farm, raise cattle, and maintain their language and customs.

Questions people ask about the Wapishana

Sources and further reading

• Wapishana on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• 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 Wapishana themselves. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-02.