Maquiritari, Mayongong in Venezuela


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Their first contact with Spaniards was in the 1700s. Initially the Yekuana were allied with the Spaniards, but they had armed conflict when Franciscans tried to force them to convert to Roman Catholicism by order of the Spanish crown. Not only did they refuse to convert but they had an armed rebellion in 1776. The Yekuana had more conflict with the Spaniards in the 20th century when their tribal lands were invaded by people seeking rubber trees.
In the 20th century they had bad experiences with missionaries, both Catholic and Protestant. For that reason, many stay away from Christian beliefs. They have, however, welcomed mission schools. These schools have led them to better jobs.
Today, the Yekuana and the Sanuma (Yanomami subgroup) live in the Auaris region. The two tribes had many wars, but today they cooperate, and even intermarry, especially in Brazil. Most of the Yekuana are in Venezuela, but a small number are further south in Brazil.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Yekuana prefer cross-cousin marriage, where a man marries from his mother's brother's daughter or father's sister's son. He can marry several sisters, but this is reserved for powerful men like shamans.
Each Yekuana village is politically independent. They have a village chief, but also a council of elders. The chief coordinates of collective activities, but he can't issue orders. This is the domain of the elders. The chief offers direction and he represents tribal interests with outsiders.
Under the elders, there are both single and married young men. Over meals they discuss communal work needs. Through these cooperative efforts they have produced large, productive farms and multi-family homes.
Their main livelihood involves agriculture. They grow crops on large communal farms and keep livestock. Fishing and hunting help them have enough meat in their diet. They are excellent canoe makers. These canoes are essential for their fishing activities.


What Are Their Beliefs?

There are Yekuana Christians. Some are Evangelical in Venezuela, but almost all others are Roman Catholic. The Yekuana have had a number of bad experiences with mission efforts, so they have been suspicious of all missionaries. New Tribes Mission worked among them. Some missionaries have left after seeing little fruit from their labor.
The Yekuana believe in an earthly and a spiritual realm. There are good and evil spirits. The latter need to be controlled by shamans. These shamans understand how to perform rituals that appease the spirits. Some shamans have special powers like how to heal sickness. They utter magical invocation or sacred chants that keep the spirits from harming them. Shamans sometimes perform rituals for the entire community, but these are more likely to be done for individuals. Yekuana shamans can also act as prophets.
There is a rite of passage into adulthood when a girl has her first period. For a time, she lives in seclusion, cooking her own food and doing her own fishing. She weaves cotton, though she can also attend classes. She cuts her hair very short and refrains from painting her body. When the time of seclusion is over, she drinks a lot of their traditional drink. She can paint herself, attend social activities and marry.


What Are Their Needs?

The Yekuana people need to put their trust in the power and character of Jesus Christ, the only one who can save them. As it stands, this people put their hope either in a religious institution or in the power of their shamans.


Prayer Points

Pray for justice and mercy as the Yekuana people face many changes in the 21st century.
Pray for a Christ-oriented revival among the Yekuana people.
Pray for loving, Holy Spirit anointed missionaries to go to the Yekuana to help them with their medical, economic and spiritual needs.
Pray for Yekuana elders to have dreams and visions of the risen Christ, and to tells others of the Lord's glory.
Pray for Yekuana to make disciples who make more disciples.


Scripture Prayers for the Maquiritari, Mayongong in Venezuela.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ye%27kuana
https://pib.socioambiental.org/en/Povo:Ye'kwana
https://www.survivalinternational.org/news/4133
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/831969731154828045/
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-brazil-indigenous/brazil-asked-to-take-measures-to-protect-indigenous-peoples-from-covid-19-idUSKCN24M02V


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Yekuana
People Name in Country Maquiritari, Mayongong
Alternate Names Dhe'cwana; Maiongong; Makiritare; Maquiritari; Mayongong; Pawana; Soto
Population this Country 6,200
Population all Countries 6,700
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 3
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 13527
ROP3 Code 106298
ROP25 Code 305177
ROP25 Name Yekuana (Maquiritari)
Country Venezuela
Region America, Latin
Continent South America
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Bolivar and Amazonas states: Brazilian border area on upper Auaris, Caura, Cuntinamo, Cunucunuma, Erebato, Matacuni, Padamo, mid-Paragua, and upper Ventuari rivers.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Venezuela
Region America, Latin
Continent South America
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Bolivar and Amazonas states: Brazilian border area on upper Auaris, Caura, Cuntinamo, Cunucunuma, Erebato, Matacuni, Padamo, mid-Paragua, and upper Ventuari rivers..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 2.00 %)
80.00 %
Ethnic Religions
20.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Maquiritari (6,200 speakers)
Language Code mch   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Maquiritari (6,200 speakers)
Language Code mch   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Maquiritari

Primary Language:  Maquiritari

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1957-1968)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1970)
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Maquiritari Jesus Film Project
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Maquiritari YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Maquiritari YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Marcos Schultz 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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