THE INDIGENOUS WITHIN

A Cross Curricular Study

Who are the indigenous of Paraguay?

maka boy
Maká Youth

It is believed the original indigenous people of Paraguay were the Tupi-Guarani who came from the right bank of the Amazon River. One hypothesis is they arrived from Asia through the Bering Strait and were of Mongolian ancestry. The other hypothesis concludes the origin of the peoples as Polynesian, Oceanic and Pacific Islanders who were displaced by water, arriving to the South American shoreline in boats made of rush. Use a map such as one found at this National Geographic site to trace the route of a selected group of indigenous people.  

 

Paraguay is geographically divided into two regions, the separation being the Rio Paraguay. One region is eastern Paraguay, which was settled by the semi-nomadic Guarani tribes. The distribution of these tribes was known as Guarani Pai Tavytera Fluke, Cario, Guayani, and Tupis. The four groups all spoke a variety of Guarani. They were known as the searchers of the ‘earth without evil’. These forest dwellers were guided by beliefs of the existence of a supreme being. They had strong beliefs in nature, a constructed mythology of goblins and natural manifestations. They were organized in multi-lineage units, with boss-avaete or mburvicha. There was communal organization with tribal chiefs and shamans. They were without social classes and they existed on cooperation and mutual help.


The western region of Paraguay is known as the Chaco. The Chaco was home to several hunter-gatherer groups known as the Guaycuru. There were approximately thirteen tribes of the Chaco that represented five language families. The tribes of the Chaco were more war-like and resisted the colonial efforts at conversion and pacification.

 

 

Mbaya Indian portrait
Mbaya Indian Portrait



Activities:

Research to find the indigenous population in the area where you live.

Research hypothesis on where they came from.

Compare and contrast an indigenous tribe from the eastern part of the United States to one in the western region: customs, clothing, language, arts and crafts, weapons, food.
Create a virtual museum using presentation software such as PowerPoint using 'artifacts' collected from various on and off-line sources.

Introduction
Objectives
Who are they?
History
Language
Arts and crafts
Endangered species
Future

Resources

Assessment


Jennifer Klimsza, Art Teacher, Joseph Middle/High School
Lori Kissinger, Elementary Teacher, Joseph Elementary School
Jennesta Nettles,  University of Idaho