Introduction / History

The Arara do Acre people call themselves the Arara Shawãdawa. During the latter part of the 1800s they suffered from incursions by rubber plantations. They were moved off their ancestral lands to make way for the plantations.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Today the Arara do Acre people still have to defend their homeland against outsiders. They get their land back, then others take it, and they eventually take it back once again. They are trying to preserve their language and culture, which is a difficult task. They must depend on those who still speak the language to teach the next generation.
Marriages are monogamous (one man and one wife), but the potential husband must have a rifle, a house and a cleared field to grow crops. That is his proof he can be a provider. They don’t have a wedding ceremony unless they identify as Catholic. Arara do Acre people marry between ages 13 and 16. They have nuclear families, and there is a division of labor according to gender. Men clear farmland to grow manioc, but women help with the harvest. Women take care of household activities, the children and domesticated animals.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Some of them identify as Roman Catholic while others cling to their traditional religion.

What Are Their Needs?

The Arara do Acre people need protection from those who want to take their land. It is a constant struggle for them.

Prayer Points

Pray for God’s hand of protection on the Arara do Acre people.
Pray for Arara do Acre followers of Christ to disciple others to disciple others as well.
Pray for spiritual hunger that will lead them to focus on Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Scripture Prayers for the Arara do Acre in Brazil.

References

http://www.native-languages.org/shawadawa.htm
https://pib.socioambiental.org/en/Povo:Arara_Shaw%C3%A3dawa