Amazon Rainforest Dwellers
The Yanomami are indigenous people inhabiting the Amazon rainforest along the border of Brazil and Venezuela, representing one of the largest relatively isolated indigenous groups in the Americas. Living in circular communal houses (shabonos), practicing slash-and-burn horticulture, and maintaining complex shamanic traditions, the Yanomami face ongoing threats from illegal gold mining, deforestation, and disease. Their situation highlights global conflicts between indigenous rights and resource extraction.
Shabono - Communal Living
The shabono is a large, circular communal house that can house 50-400 people from an entire village. Built from poles, vines, and palm leaves, the shabono features an open central plaza used for ceremonies, gatherings, and daily activities. Individual families occupy sections around the perimeter, with their hammocks and cooking fires creating distinct family spaces within the shared structure. This architectural design reflects Yanomami social organization, fostering community cohesion while maintaining family units. The shabono embodies their philosophy of communal living and connection to the forest.
Shamanism & Face Painting: Yanomami shamans (shapori) use hallucinogenic snuff made from the yakoana plant to contact hekura spirits. These powerful shamanic rituals involve chanting, dancing, and trance states lasting hours. Face painting using annatto seeds (red) and charcoal (black) serves both aesthetic and symbolic functions, with patterns indicating social status, ceremonial participation, and spiritual protection.
This page honors the Yanomami—Amazon rainforest guardians practicing communal living, maintaining shamanic traditions, and fighting to protect ancestral lands from illegal mining and deforestation.
