The Sanumá, also referred to as ''Sanema, Sanima Tsanuma, Guaika, Samatari, Samatali, Xamatari'' and ''Chirichano'' in the literature, are an
indigenous people
There is no generally accepted definition of Indigenous peoples, although in the 21st century the focus has been on self-identification, cultural difference from other groups in a state, a special relationship with their traditional territ ...
of
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
and
Venezuela
Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...
. They are related to the
Yanomami
The Yanomami, also spelled Yąnomamö or Yanomama, are a group of approximately 35,000 indigenous people of the Americas, indigenous people who live in some 200–250 villages in the Amazon rainforest on the border between Venezuela and Brazil. ...
.
The Sanumá number about 1500, and live on both sides of the Brazil-Venezuela border. In Venezuela, they are found in the
Caura River and
Ventuari River
The Ventuari River is the largest tributary of the Orinoco in southern Venezuela. The Ventuari flows from south-central Venezuela in the Guiana Highlands southwest into the Orinoco River. It is long and its major tributary is the Manapiare River ...
basins where they live alongside the
Ye'kuana. The
Sanumá language is a
Yanomaman language.
Conflicts with miners
On 24 October 2006, their reserve in Venezuela was invaded by miners who destroyed some of their villages. In retaliation, the Venezuelan army killed 10 miners. This incident led to mass protests by non-Indians in Southern Venezuela.
Further reading
*Bruce Parry,''Tribe: Adventures in a Changing World'' (Michael Joseph Raped Ltd, 2007)
*Amy Penfield, ''Predatory Economies: The Sanema and the Socialist State in Contemporary Amazonia'' (University of Texas Press, 2023)
*Alcida Ramos, ''Sanuma Memories: Yanomami Ethnography in Times of Crisis '' (University of Wisconsin Press, 1995)
References
External links
Indigenous Peoples of Brazil – YanomamiBBC: Sanema Tribe
Ethnic groups in Brazil
Indigenous peoples in Brazil
Indigenous peoples in Venezuela
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