Tapirape in Brazil

The Tapirape have only been reported in Brazil
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Tapirape are an indigenous tribe whose original homeland was near the Tocantins and Xingu rivers. They lived there until the 1600s. In the latter 1700s they settled in the Araguaia River region in Brazil’s western Mato Grosso state. In the first half of the 20th century, they often had clashes with their neighbors, especially those from the Kayapó people. A rubber boom in 1911 brought them in contact with whites, and most died from introduced diseases. Starting in 1951 the Jesuits established a medical mission where the Tapirape could receive medical care. They have been moved to a different village where they faced conflicts with Brazilians squatters and large agricultural companies, especially in the 1970s.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Tapirape leadership is very egalitarian. They have leaders for each village house, who meet nightly to discuss matters that affect all of them. More recently they have had younger leaders, men in their 30s and 40s, who speak fluent Portuguese so they can deal with outsiders. They must be good at negotiating with ranchers and FUNAI, the Brazilian government’s agency for dealing with indigenous peoples.
Most Tapirape are farmers who grow rice, manioc, bananas and cotton. They live near their fields. Sometimes this means setting up improvised housing during key times. Hunting is important to them, and being a good hunter is a way for men to gain higher status. They are also adept at fishing and producing crafts. Selling these crafts are their only commercial activity.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Tapirape depend on the power of their shamans to manipulate and control the spirits. These shamans are responsible for fertility and safe delivery of babies. They have dreams where they travel to the “house of the boar” and perform a ceremony intended to increase the size of their herds. They are held responsible for health problems because these come from malevolent spirits. During times of epidemics, there have been many revenge killings, some of which involve shamans.


What Are Their Needs?

Though they have a Christian witness, the Tapirape need to put all their trust in Jesus Christ. Health issues, safe deliveries of babies, large herds, etc. are in the hands of the God of Abraham.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Tapirape people to find God faithful.
May God provide them with abundance and healthy deliveries of babies as a testimony of his power and goodness.
Pray for Tapirape followers of Christ to disciple others who will disciple others as well.


Scripture Prayers for the Tapirape in Brazil.


References

https://pib.socioambiental.org/en/Povo:Tapirap%C3%A9
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapirap%C3%A9
https://www.everyculture.com/South-America/Tapirap.html
https://www.penn.museum/sites/vanishingworlds/tapirape.shtml


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tapirape
People Name in Country Tapirape
Alternate Names Tapi’irape
Population this Country 700
Population all Countries 700
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 3
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 15266
ROP3 Code 109844
Country Brazil
Region America, Latin
Continent South America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Tocantins and Mato Grosso states: mouth of Tapirapé and Araguaia rivers.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Brazil
Region America, Latin
Continent South America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Tocantins and Mato Grosso states: mouth of Tapirapé and Araguaia rivers..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 1.00 %)
65.00 %
Ethnic Religions
35.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Tapirape (700 speakers)
Language Code taf   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tapirape (700 speakers)
Language Code taf   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tapirape

Primary Language:  Tapirape

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Agência Brasil - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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