Introduction / History

The Yaminawa are an Amazonian tribe living in Brazil and Bolivia where they live in Madre de Dios in Peru. Yaminawa means people of the axe. The name was given to them by people not of their tribe. They speak a Panoan language. In Peru they are also called Yaminahua.

The Yaminawa have a low literacy level so the gospel will need to be given to them in oral form and probably in their language as not many of them speak Spanish or Portuguese. They are protecting the rain forest and have contact with others in the way they want and so maintain their culture. Their leaders have worked in recent times to have acceptable financial and social relations with those in the world away from their community.

The first main contact with the Yaminawa was made during the rubber boom which caused problems for them. They have had further problems with loggers and with oil exploration too.

Prayer Points

* Pray that the gospel can be given to the Yaminawa in their own language leading them to Jesus Christ.
* Pray that the troubles they have had will cause them to accept the gospel message when given to them.

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaminaw%C3%A1_people