Embera-Saija in Colombia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Culturally the Embera peoples are very similar to the neighboring Wounaan people. One of the subgroups of the Embera is the Saija. Though the Embera-Saija live in Panama and Ecuador, most are in Colombia.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Embera-Saija hunters use dart poison on the tips of their arrows. Men either wear a slender loincloth or western style clothes. Women wear the same clothes as their ancestors, which includes a short wraparound skirt made from bark and/or colorful cloth. Women love jewelry made from coins. These can be necklaces or pounded into earrings or bracelets. Both genders color their skin with red or blue dyes made from natural materials. They tattoo themselves with geometric designs.
The Embera-Saija enjoy a drink made from fruits, sugarcane or maize. For their food supply they grow rice, yams, plantains and bananas.


What Are Their Beliefs?

A little over half are Roman Catholic, but their form of Catholicism can be blended with indigenous beliefs. Others maintain indigenous practices.


What Are Their Needs?

The Embera-Saija people need to put all their faith in Jesus Christ, and his work on the cross.


Prayer Points

Pray for the few Embera-Saija followers of Christ to disciple others in the faith.
Pray for the Embera-Saija to have a spiritual hunger, and that it will be satisfied by Jesus Christ alone.
Pray for the Lord to protect the Embera-Saija people from outsiders who might want to use them and abuse them.


Scripture Prayers for the Embera-Saija in Colombia.


References

https://ifnotusthenwho.me/films/indigenous-culture-needed-to-protect-forests/
https://www.everyculture.com/Middle-America-Caribbean/Ember-and-Wounaan-Orientation.html


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Embera-Saija
People Name in Country Embera-Saija
Alternate Names Epera
Population this Country 7,300
Population all Countries 8,500
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 14644
ROP3 Code 108522
Country Colombia
Region America, Latin
Continent South America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 34  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Cauca, Nariño, and Valle del Cauca departments: 2 separate areas on South Pacific coast.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Colombia
Region America, Latin
Continent South America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 34  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Cauca, Nariño, and Valle del Cauca departments: 2 separate areas on South Pacific coast..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 1.50 %)
40.00 %
Ethnic Religions
60.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Epena (7,300 speakers)
Language Code sja   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Epena (7,300 speakers)
Language Code sja   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Epena
Photo Source Yves Picq - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source Anonymous  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024