Mythologies of the Ticuna Tribe

The Ticuna (also Magüta, Tucuna, Tikuna, or Tukun) are an indigenous people of Brazil (36,000), Colombia (6,000), and Peru (7,000). They are the most numerous tribe in the Brazilian Amazon. The Ticuna were originally a tribe that lived far away from the rivers and whose expansion was kept in check by neighboring people. Their historical lack of access to waterways and their practice of endogamy has led to the Ticuna being culturally and genetically distinct from other Amazonian tribes. The first contact with outsiders occurred on the colonization of Brazil when a Portuguese fleet exploring the Amazon came into contact with the Ticuna. Sustained contact with the Portuguese and other outsiders began in 1649. Since the Ticuna lived relatively inland compared to other tribes they were less affected by the diseases and violence caused by colonialism, hence why the Ticuna today have the largest population of any Amazonian people. When the Europeans initiated warfare with the neighboring tribes, their land, which consisted of islands and coastal areas, was available to the Ticuna. However, the Ticuna still suffered greatly, especially in the rubber cultivation that began in the late 19th century where many Ticuna were used for slave labor. Ticuna as a Brazilian tribe has faced violence from loggers, fishermen, and rubber-tappers entering their lands around the Solimões River. Brazil and Paraguay were in a war between 1864–1870, and the Ticuna chose to fight in that war. This depleted their population and the Ticuna were forced out of their Brazilian territories. Four Ticuna people were murdered, 19 were wounded, and 10 had disappeared in the 1988 Helmet Massacre. By the 1990s, Brazil formally recognized the Ticunas' right to their lands, thus protecting the Ticuna people, as well as decreasing conflict in the surrounding areas. Ticuna people speak the Ticuna language, which is usually identified as a language isolate, although it might possibly be related to the extinct Yuri language thus forming the hypothetical Ticuna–Yuri grouping. The Ticuna language was once thought to be an Arawakan language, but this has now been discredited as more likely the Ticuna have adopted many linguistic features due to a long history of interaction with Arawakan-speaking tribes. It is written in the Latin script.

The Ticuna are the most numerous people in Brazilian Amazonia. Following a recent history shaped by the violent invasion of rubber-tappers, fishermen and loggers in the Solimões river region, it was only in the 1990s that the Ticuna gained official recognition for the majority of their lands. Today they face the challenge of guaranteeing their economic and environmental sustainability, enhancing their relations with the surrounding society while maintaining the vivacity of their extremely rich culture. Not by chance, the masks, designs and paintings of this people have achieved international recognition. According to Ticuna oral tradition, it was Yo´i [one of the principal culture heroes] who fished the first Ticuna from the red waters of the Eware creek (close to the springs of the São Jerônimo river). These were the Magüta (literally, ‘group of people fished with a rod´;’ from the verb magü, ‘fish with a rod,’, and the collectivizing suffix -ta), who first lived near to the house of Yo´i, on Taiwegine mountain. Even today, this is a sacred location for the Ticuna, the place where some of the immortals reside and where the material remains of their beliefs are to be found (such as the remains of the house or the fishing rod used by Yo´i). “According to their myths, the Ticuna originally came from the Eware creek, situated on the springs of the São Jerônimo (Tonatü) creek, an affluent of the left shore of the Solimões (Amazon) river on the section between Tabatinga and São Paulo de Olivença. Even today this is the area with the highest concentration of Ticuna, where 42 of the current 59 villages are situated” (Oliveira, 2002: 280). This people lived on the upper courses of the left-shore affluents of the Solimões, on the section where the latter enters Brazilian territory as far as the Içá/Putumayo river. There was a large exodus towards the Solimões.

Tucuna, a South American Indian people living in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, around the Amazon-Solimões and Putomayo-Içá rivers. They numbered about 25,000 in the late 1980s. The Tucunan language does not appear to be related to any of the other languages spoken in the region. The Tucuna live in flat, moist, jungle tracts in the northwest Amazon basin and cultivate bitter and sweet cassava, yams, and corn (maize). They raise chickens for food and keep a number of wild mammals as pets around their houses. The Tucuna gather tubers and nuts from the forest and eat some types of frogs, certain larvae, and ants. They collect wild honey but do not keep bees. At one time, the Tucuna were skilled hunters, using bows and arrows, spears, blowguns, snares, and traps. In the 20th century, however, the demand for animal hides has depleted the availability of game in the jungle and has altered old patterns of hunting. The Tucuna manufacture a simple type of pottery but do not weave cloth or practice metallurgy. They are accomplished in the art of making and using bark cloth, out of which they make ceremonial masks and large animal figures. They manufacture many different baskets and other containers out of a variety of plant fibres. The 20th-century Tucuna are adaptable and successful traders, just as their forebears had been. Traditionally, the Tucuna exchanged certain vegetable poisons of the Amazonian forest for goods brought down from the mountains. In recent years, the Tucuna have provided animal hides and canoes to urbanized South Americans, in exchange for money and manufactured goods.

The Ticuna people have lived in the Amazon rainforest for centuries, and their culture is deeply intertwined with the natural world. They have a rich history, unique traditions, and a strong sense of community. However, they also face significant challenges, including deforestation, climate change, and the encroachment of outsiders on their traditional lands. The Ticuna’s way of life is centered around the forest, where they gather food, build their homes, and practice their traditional rituals. They are skilled hunters, gatherers, and fishermen, and they have a deep understanding of the rainforest’s plants and animals. The Ticuna people are also renowned for their intricate body art, which is a symbol of their cultural identity. Despite the challenges they face, the Ticuna people are determined to preserve their culture and way of life. They are working to protect their traditional lands, promote sustainable development, and educate outsiders about their culture. The Ticuna people are an inspiration to us all, and they remind us of the importance of living in harmony with the natural world. The Ticuna people of the Amazon rainforest are a resilient and resourceful people who have lived in the rainforest for centuries. They have a rich culture and a deep connection to the natural world. However, they also face significant challenges, including deforestation, climate change, and the encroachment of outsiders on their traditional lands. Despite these challenges, the Ticuna people are determined to preserve their culture and way of life. They are working to protect their traditional lands, promote sustainable development, and educate outsiders about their culture. The Ticuna people are an inspiration to us all, and they remind us of the importance of living in harmony with the natural world.

Are you ready for an exciting adventure into the heart of the Amazon rainforest? Step into the mysterious world of the Ticuna tribe and discover their vibrant culture. This ancient tribe has a rich history and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. Immerse yourself in the Ticuna culture by learning about their unique beliefs, customs, food, and music. Gain insight into their daily life by observing their intricate handicrafts and experiencing their traditional medicine. Take a canoe ride down the Amazon River and witness the natural beauty of the rainforest that the Ticuna people call home. The Ticuna tribe may be isolated from modern society, but they have managed to preserve their culture and adapt to the changing times. Discover the secrets of their harmonious way of life that have allowed them to thrive in their environment for centuries. Take the opportunity to connect with the Ticuna people and learn about their fascinating way of life. Prepare to be amazed by the Ticuna tribe’s unique culture and spirituality. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you won’t want to miss. So, come join us on a journey into the heart of the Amazon rainforest and explore the vibrant culture of the Ticuna tribe.

The name "Ticuna" is apparently of foreign origin; perhaps it comes from the Tupí, "Taco-una," which means "men painted black" or "black skins." This name was given them by their neighbors because formerly the Ticuna often painted their bodies black with genipapo (Genipa americana ) juice. In their daily conversations the Ticuna call themselves "Due'e," which means "people." Formerly, the Ticuna occupied the headwaters and central courses of small tributaries on the left side of the Amazon River and its headwaters, which flow into the Putumayo, from 71° 15′ to 68° 40′ W. Today their territory covers areas of Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. Most of the Ticuna live near the Amazon. In Peru, they have settled in the northeastern part of the department of Loreto in the province of Maynas; in Colombia, they inhabit the Amazon Trapeze in the Amazonas Commissariat; in Brazil, they live in the state of Amazonas, in the municipalities of San Pablo do Olivença, San Antonio do Iça, Benjamín Constant, and Fonte Boa. Ticuna is believed to be an independent language. In 1981 the Ticuna population in Brazil and Peru was estimated to be 15,900. There were an estimated 18,421 Ticuna in Brazil in 1984 and 5,635 in Colombia in 1986. According to their creation myth, the Ticuna originated in the Eware ravine, near the Colombian-Brazilian border. Formerly the left bank of the Amazon, as well as its islands, were occupied by the Omagua, who were the enemies of the Ticuna. The banks of the Río Putumayo were inhabited by Arawak, Mariaté, Yumana, and Pasé Indians, who had become almost completely extinct by the middle of the ninteenth century. To the west of the Ticuna lived the Peba and the Yagua; the latter are still their neighbors. When the Europeans arrived in the area, the Omagua were decimated by wars between Portuguese and Spanish missionaries and by epidemics. The population of the Mayoróna also decreased. This enabled the Ticuna to expand their territory toward that of the Omagua and Mayoróna. Between 1864 and 1870 Brazil was at war with Paraguay; the involvement of the Ticuna in this war led to a decrease in their population. At the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries, intensive rubber tapping was instigated, with natives as the main source of labor. Of the Ticuna, the most seriously affected were those living on Brazilian soil; they were forcibly relocated. Former rubber tappers are now the owners of the land and the Ticuna's "bosses," a situation that has generated still-unresolved conflicts. In 1932 a war between Colombia and Peru erupted, causing the Ticuna to emigrate from the left to the right bank of the Amazon. In the 1940s farmers and city dwellers began to colonize the Amazon Trapeze. A significant development of the 1950s was a bonanza in the export of hides and animals; the physical presence of the church was also affirmed by the Apostolic Prefecture of Leticia. Besides preaching, the church began to build schools in the area in the 1960s and the first half of the 1970s and is still in charge of the education that is imparted to the Indians. In the 1970s there were two important trends that affected the Ticuna of Brazil as well as those of Colombia: a considerable population increase and the concentration of people in villages all along the Amazon. In the 1980s an incipient messianic movement, founded and propagated by Brother José Francisco da Cruz, involved almost the entire Ticuna population in Brazil and Peru and, to a lesser degree, of Colombia.

According to their creation myth, the Ticuna originated in the Eware ravine, near the Colombian-Brazilian border. Formerly the left bank of the Amazon, as well as its islands, were occupied by the Omagua, who were the enemies of the Ticuna. The banks of the Río Putumayo were inhabited by Arawak, Mariaté, Yumana, and Pasé Indians, who had become almost completely extinct by the middle of the ninteenth century. To the west of the Ticuna lived the Peba and the Yagua; the latter are still their neighbors. When the Europeans arrived in the area, the Omagua were decimated by wars between Portuguese and Spanish missionaries and by epidemics. The population of the Mayoróna also decreased. This enabled the Ticuna to expand their territory toward that of the Omagua and Mayoróna. Between 1864 and 1870 Brazil was at war with Paraguay; the involvement of the Ticuna in this war led to a decrease in their population. At the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries, intensive rubber tapping was instigated, with natives as the main source of labor. Of the Ticuna, the most seriously affected were those living on Brazilian soil; they were forcibly relocated. Former rubber tappers are now the owners of the land and the Ticuna's "bosses," a situation that has generated still-unresolved conflicts. In 1932 a war between Colombia and Peru erupted, causing the Ticuna to emigrate from the left to the right bank of the Amazon. In the 1940s farmers and city dwellers began to colonize the Amazon Trapeze. A significant development of the 1950s was a bonanza in the export of hides and animals; the physical presence of the church was also affirmed by the Apostolic Prefecture of Leticia. Besides preaching, the church began to build schools in the area in the 1960s and the first half of the 1970s and is still in charge of the education that is imparted to the Indians. In the 1970s there were two important trends that affected the Ticuna of Brazil as well as those of Colombia: a considerable population increase and the concentration of people in villages all along the Amazon. In the 1980s an incipient messianic movement, founded and propagated by Brother José Francisco da Cruz, involved almost the entire Ticuna population in Brazil and Peru and, to a lesser degree, of Colombia.

The Ticuna, also spelled Tukuna or Tikuna, reside in the Brazilian Amazon rain forest near the borders of Peru and Colombia. There are over 70 established Ticuna aldeias (villages) in the Alto Solimones, in the area of the rivers Santo Antonio do Ica and Solimones River. There is also a population in Colombia. The Ticuna were one of the first major tribes of the Amazon to be contacted by the early conquistadors. They are one of the last large population groups left in Brazil. Even with over 400 years of contact, the Ticuna Nation has managed to preserve their personal identity through their native language, traditional religions, rituals, and cultural art forms. They have survived the constant threat of violent extermination and forced integration policies by Western society. The Ticuna are a very artistic tribe whose talents include basketry, wood and stone sculpture, and mask making. They also make bark cloth which is a natural fiber, paper-like fabric which they often paint. This fabric is often incorporated into many things such as masks and dolls as well as painting on it as on canvas or paper. They are one of the few Amazon tribes that paint just for the worth of the painting itself as opposed to painting as decoration on a utilitarian object.

The Ticuna name, comes from their neighbours which means “black face” or “black body”, alluding to their custom of painting their skin black for protection and purification in rituals. These inhabitants of the Colombian Amazon live in the thick and resonant untouched jungle, in San Pedro de los Lagos, San Antonio Shelter. The Ticuna community was founded more than 80 years ago, made up of 15 families, about 86 people and 10 houses. Both men and women participate in traditional and economic activities such as fishing, hunting, agriculture and the craft trade. This imposing forest that favours the development of lush and dense vegetation, classified as the richest and most biodiverse on the planet, bases its economy mostly on the production of the chagra. The chagra, is the main source of sustainable agriculture in the Ticuna spaces, transient or perennial crops are produced with a production period that is modified between 0 and more than 10 years, which are managed by families. These economic activities that are part of the Ticuna communities mean new income possibilities. The location of the production of the chagra is chosen taking into account specific criteria such as the characteristics and the area of the land to be cultivated, its quality and access to water so that the crops can be watered or drained when necessary. In San Pedro, bananas - known as “bellacos” - and fariña, a powdered cassava flour considered a traditional base food that accompanies all your meals, are grown in chagras. During the day Aldemar is a tour guide - for groups that travel to San Pedro - and a musician in the evenings. He explores the vastness of the forest daily. The trees guides him along the humid and deep path in which he moves freely to the rhythm of the whistles coming from the leaves in the Amazon. The rain and the bright sun alternate non stop during the day. When crossing the Colombian thicket and moving through the water you can see the immensity of nature, surrounded by trees that are 35 meters high which guide the natives through the forest. You can hear the howls of the Pachamama. There are also various types of birds and monkeys in the majestic jungle that can be seen very closely, every corner of this immaculate jungle is protected by a magical shield.

The Ticuna (also known as Tukuna or Tikuna) live in the Amazon rain forest of Brazil, near the borders of Peru and Colombia. They were among the first major Amazonian tribes to come into contact with Europeans. However, despite the passing of more than 400 years, the Ticuna have preserved their traditional religion, rituals, language, and art forms. They are one of the last remaining large indigenous populations in Brazil. The Ticuna are known especially for their ritual masks and costumes. This body mask is made predominantly of bark cloth, a paper-like fabric made from the inner bark of certain trees, with raffia fringe. It features a pigmented beeswax face and emphasized male genitalia. Traditionally, this type of body mask is worn by men during girls’ initiation ceremonies. Men also create the masks. Vegetable dyes were used to paint the cartoon wolf image on the front of the mask, making it a unique blend of traditional form and modern influence.

The Ticuna (also known as Tukuna, Tikuna, and Maguta) occupy Amazonas, Brazil, southeast Colombia, and northeast Peru. They live along rivers and small tributaries, in small communities numbering 50 to 150 individuals, cultivating manioc and fishing. Unlike the Shuar, they are relatively peaceful. Like most Amazonian peoples, the Ticuna raise chickens and keep monkeys, parrots, and macaws for pets. The feathers of these birds are used to make headdresses and ornaments for ceremonial dress. The Ticuna are a highly social group who travel frequently by canoe to other villages. They are famous as canoe builders. Ticuna masks and full-body bark-cloth costumes are recognized throughout the region. Unlike other Amazonian peoples, the Ticuna use little body ornamentation. The men hunt and create ceremonial masks, while the women cook and cultivate the land. Shamans play an important role in Ticuna society. Because of their extensive knowledge of medicinal plants, they are valued as powerful healers. During rituals, shamans communicate with the malevolent spirits that dwell in specific trees. The Ticuna are actively resisting encroachment on their ancestral lands by colonists.

The name "Ticuna" is apparently of foreign origin; perhaps it comes from the Tupí, "Taco-una," which means "men painted black" or "black skins." This name was given them by their neighbors because formerly the Ticuna often painted their bodies black with genipapo (Genipa Americana) juice. In their daily conversations the Ticuna call themselves "Due'e," which means "people." Formerly, the Ticuna occupied the headwaters and central courses of small tributaries on the left side of the Amazon River and its headwaters, which flow into the Putumayo, from 71°15' to 68°40' W. In 1990s, their territory covers areas of Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. Most of the Ticuna live near the Amazon. In Peru, they have settled in the northeastern part of the department of Loreto in the province of Maynas; in Colombia, they inhabit the Amazon Trapeze in the Amazonas Commissariat; in Brazil, they live in the state of Amazonas, in the municipalities of San Pablo do Olivenca, San Antonio do Ica, Benjamín Constant, and Fonte Boa. According to their creation myth, the Ticuna originated in the Eware ravine, near the Colombian-Brazilian border. Formerly the left bank of the Amazon, as well as its islands, were occupied by the Omagua, who were the enemies of the Ticuna. The banks of the Río Putumayo were inhabited by Arawak, Mariaté, Yumana, and Pasé Indians, who had become almost completely extinct by the middle of the ninteenth century. To the west of the Ticuna lived the Peba and the Yagua; the latter are still their neighbors. When the Europeans arrived in the area, the Omagua were decimated by wars between Portuguese and Spanish missionaries and by epidemics. The population of the Mayoróna also decreased. This enabled the Ticuna to expand their territory toward that of the Omagua and Mayoróna. Between 1864 and 1870 Brazil was at war with Paraguay; the involvement of the Ticuna in this war led to a decrease in their population. At the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries, intensive rubber tapping was instigated, with natives as the main source of labor. Of the Ticuna, the most seriously affected were those living on Brazilian soil; they were forcibly relocated. Former rubber tappers are now the owners of the land and the Ticuna's "bosses", a situation that has generated still-unresolved conflicts. In 1932 a war between Colombia and Peru erupted, causing the Ticuna to emigrate from the left to the right bank of the Amazon. In the 1940s farmers and city dwellers began to colonize the Amazon Trapeze. A significant development of the 1950s was a bonanza in the export of hides and animals; the physical presence of the church was also affirmed by the Apostolic Prefecture of Leticia. Besides preaching, the church began to build schools in the area in the 1960s and the first half of the 1970s and is still in charge of the education that is imparted to the Indians. In the 1970s there were two important trends that affected the Ticuna of Brazil as well as those of Colombia: a considerable population increase and the concentration of people in villages all along the Amazon. In the 1980s an incipient messianic movement, founded and propagated by Brother José Francisco da Cruz, involved almost the entire Ticuna population in Brazil and Peru and, to a lesser degree, of Colombia.