In today's world, Yaminawá occupies a central place in society. Whether due to its impact on popular culture, its relevance in the academic field, its influence in politics or its importance in history, Yaminawá is presented as a topic of interest that leaves no one indifferent. Over the years, Yaminawá has aroused the interest of researchers, journalists, writers and ordinary people, generating debates, reflections and discussions around its meaning, its evolution and its impact on different aspects of daily life. In this article, we will delve into the most relevant aspects of Yaminawá, exploring its origins, its development and its influence on today's society.
Total population | |
---|---|
2,684 (Funasa, 2010) | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Brazil (Acre), Peru, Bolivia | |
Languages | |
Yaminawá, Panoan language family |
The Yaminawá (Iaminaua, Jaminawa, Yawanawa) are an indigenous people who live in Acre (Brazil), Madre de Dios (Peru) and Pando (Bolivia). Their homeland is Acre, Brazil.
The Yaminawá translated to "people of the axe." They are also called the Iaminaua, Jaminawa, Yaminawá (in Brazil), and Yaminahua (in Peru and Bolívia), as well as Yuminahua, Yabinahua, Yambinahua, Yamanawa, and other variants. The Yaminawá name was given to them by outsiders. They have several autonyms including Bashonawá (basho = "opossum"), Marinawá (mari = "cutia", an agouti), Xixinawá (xixi = "white coati"), or Yawanawá (yawa = "wild boar").
The Yaminawá language belongs to the Panoan language family. Linguists estimate that less than 1600 people speak the language. Its ISO 639-3 code is YAA. Very few Yaminawá people speak Spanish or Portuguese, and their literacy rate is extremely low.
The Yawanawa community is currently led by Tashka and Laura Yawanawa. Tashka Yawanawa had served as Chief of the Yananawa since 2001.[citation needed] In just a few years, Tashka and his wife Laura (Mixteca-Zapoteca) have worked to increase Yawanawa territory, reinvigorate Yawanawa culture, and establish economically and socially empowering relationships with the outside world.[citation needed]
The Yawanawa community and their allies are developing a new model of sustainability that allows the Yawanawa to protect the rainforest and engage with the outside world on their own terms, without losing their cultural and spiritual identity.[citation needed]