Indigenous peoples in Paraguay
Encyclopedia
The Indigenous peoples in Paraguay include 17 ethnic groups belonging to five language families. While only a 1.7% of Paraguay
's population is fully indigenous, 95% of the population is partially of native heritage; however, the majority do not identify as being indigenous. Most of the Indian population lives in the northwestern part of the country, the Gran Chaco
.
an population is mestizo
, that of partial Indian descent. Since the late 20th century, the indigenous population is growing faster than the rest of the population. As of 2002, 47.1% of the native population was 14 years old or younger.
, Guaycuru
, Maskoy
, Mataco-Mataguayo, and Zamuco
. The Guarani language
, along with Spanish
, is an official language of Paraguay and is spoken by 90% of the population.
Access to clean drinking water is a major challenge. Only 2.5% of Paraguay's indigenous population has access to drinking water and only 9.5% have electricity.
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
's population is fully indigenous, 95% of the population is partially of native heritage; however, the majority do not identify as being indigenous. Most of the Indian population lives in the northwestern part of the country, the Gran Chaco
Gran Chaco
The Gran Chaco is a sparsely populated, hot and semi-arid lowland region of the Río de la Plata basin, divided among eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina and a portion of the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, where it is connected with the Pantanal region...
.
Population
The Second National Indigenous Census, conducted in 2002, recording approximately 87,099 people, or 1.7% of the country's population, as being indigenous; however, as many as 95% of the ParaguayParaguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
an population is mestizo
Mestizo
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
, that of partial Indian descent. Since the late 20th century, the indigenous population is growing faster than the rest of the population. As of 2002, 47.1% of the native population was 14 years old or younger.
Settlement
An increasing percentage of the registered indigenous population lives in the northwestern region of Paraguay. The 1981 census reported 32.8% of the indigenous peoples living there, while 44.2% lived there in 1992, and 50.7% in 2002. The majority of indigenous peoples live in rural areas in 412 indigenous communities.Languages
Indigenous Paraguayan languages belong to five language families: GuaraniGuaraní languages
The Guaraní languages are a group of half a dozen or so languages in the Tupí–Guaraní language family. The best known language in this family is Guaraní, the national language of Paraguay.The Guaraní languages are:...
, Guaycuru
Guaicuruan languages
Guaicuruan is a language family spoken in northern Argentina, western Paraguay, and Brazil .-Family division:...
, Maskoy
Mascoian languages
The Mascoian languages are a small language family of Paraguay. They are part of the Mataco–Guaicuru proposal.The languages are:*Emok*Guana *Lengua...
, Mataco-Mataguayo, and Zamuco
Zamucoan languages
Zamucoan is a small language family of Paraguay and Bolivia .The family has hardly been studied by linguists , although several studies have recently appeared .-Extant languages:Zamucoan consists of two living languages:*...
. The Guarani language
Guaraní language
Guaraní, specifically the primary variety known as Paraguayan Guaraní , is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí–Guaraní subfamily of the Tupian languages. It is one of the official languages of Paraguay , where it is spoken by the majority of the population, and half of...
, along with Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, is an official language of Paraguay and is spoken by 90% of the population.
Social issues
Literacy rates are low among indigenous peoples in Paraguay, who have an illiteracy rate of 51% compared to the 7.1% rate of the general population.Access to clean drinking water is a major challenge. Only 2.5% of Paraguay's indigenous population has access to drinking water and only 9.5% have electricity.
Tribes
- AchéAchéThe Aché Indians are a traditional hunter-gatherer tribe living in Paraguay. They are called "Guayakí" by Guaraní-speaking neighbors and in early anthropological accounts...
- Abipón
- Ayoreo
- Chané
- Chamacoco (Ishir)
- Ebytoso
- Tomáraho
- ChiripáChiripáChiripá Guarani , also known as Ava Guarani and Nhandéva , is a Guaraní language spoken in Paraguay, Brazil, and also Argentina. It is closely related to Paraguayan Guaraní, a language which speakers are increasingly switching to. There are 4,900 speakers in Brazil and 7,000 in Paraguay.Nhandéva is...
- Chorote
- Chulupí (NivacléNivacléNivaclé is a Matacoan language spoken in Paraguay by c.8,400 and in Argentina by 200. It is also known as Chulupí and Ashluslay, and in older sources has been called Ashuslé, Suhin, Sujín, Chunupí, Churupí, Choropí, and other variant spellings of these names...
) - Guana
- Guaraní
- Lengua (EnxetEnxetThe Enxet are an indigenous people of about 17,000 living in the Gran Chaco region of western Paraguay. Originally hunter-gatherers, many are now forced to supplement their livelihood as laborers on the cattle ranches that have encroached upon their dwindling natural forest habitat...
) - Macá
- Mbayá
- Pai-Tavyter
- Sanapaná
- Toba
- Zamuco
See also
- Guaraní WarGuarani WarThe Guarani War of 1756, also called the War of the Seven Reductions, took place between the Guaraní tribes of seven Jesuit Reductions and joint Spanish-Portuguese forces...
- Paraguayan Indian art
External links
- Instituto Paraguayo del Indigena
- "Paraguay's Indigenous Peoples in Peril", Amnesty International
- Assessment for Indigenous Peoples in Paraguay
- Indigenous Squatter Communities Organise Self-Help, InterPress Service Agency