Introduction / History

Hundreds of years before the Spanish Empire, the Tucanos were expert navigators of the rivers. They used these rivers for trade, hunting and fishing.

The Spaniards introduced diseases that killed off indigenous peoples by the thousands or even the millions. That included the Tucano people who live in both Colombia and Brazil.

What Are Their Lives Like?

A Tucano man must ask permission of the father of the woman he wants to marry. When it does, the father will spell out what the dowry and goods must be. Weddings are complex, nd they last days. The Tucano must be multilingual because their men can only marry a woman from a different language group. To do otherwise would be considered incest. In their villages, there are many languages spoken. It s common to switch from one language to another in the course of a conversation. You are most likely to hear the Tucano language in the men s longhouse. In the women s longhouse, there are many languages.

They get their food supply by hunting, trapping, foraging for food in the forests and growing manioc and cassava. They have a wonderful understanding of local plants and animals.

Others make their living by making and selling pottery and woven goods to tourists. Ecotourism is one of their trades. Body painting is also part of their culture.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Their spirituality is closely connected with the land. They believe in guardian spirits in the rainforest; it s essential to be in harmony with these spirits. Over half of the Tukano are Christian, usually Roman Catholic. There are also Evangelicals among them.

What Are Their Needs?

The Tucanos started to re-assert their language and culture in the 20th century, and that process is far from over. They established their own government and educational system.

Prayer Points

Pray for Jesus Christ to be put first in Tucano churches and for their spirituality to center around him.
Pray for Tucano disciples to disciple others.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to draw them into a close relationship with the Lord.

Scripture Prayers for the Tukano in Brazil.

References

https://minorityrights.org/communities/nukak-and-tukano/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucano_people
https://bnbcolombia.com/tucano-indigenous-people-of-colombia/