Orinoco Online

The key to their survival has been a keen ability to transform nature's gifts into materials for practical and spiritual use.

Over the centuries, many traditions - and lives - have been lost or altered in the inevitable and sometimes violent process of acculturation. Often, only their material culture remains to teach us about the people of the remote Orinoco region.

Gathered in the collection are objects from twelve distinct ethnic groups living in Venezuela. Some groups are nomadic, moving between sites as the river and seasons dictate. Others have remained within a prescribed physical area for centuries, each generation passing along the knowledge of custom and belief to the next. Though they maintain their distinct patterns, many groups share common language roots and customs.

Over the years, it was not uncommon for outsiders to refer to the indigenous groups by names other than the ones they used themselves. Throughout the site, we have respected the indigenous name. The Panare are referred to as E'ñepa; the Guahibo as Hiwi; the Piapoco as Tsase; the Curripaco as Wakuénai; the Hoti as Hotï, and the Piaroa as De’áruwa (who also use the name Wóthuha.)

Sketches of the lives of the indigenous groups represented in the collection provide an important context for understanding their rich material culture. We invite you to learn more about the vital and inspiring legacy of the people of the Orinoco region.

References

For information on the people of the region and detailed bibliographies:

Donald Levinson (ed.), Encyclopedia of World Cultures, Vol. VII, Johannes Wilbert (ed.), South America, MacMillan, Boston, 1994.

Walter Coppens (ed.), Los Aborígenes de Venezuela, vol. I, II, III, Fundación La Salle-Monte Avila Editores, Caracas, 1988.

Alejandro Signi, Arte y Vida. Catálogo del Museo Etnológico, Vicariato Apostólico de Puerto Ayacucho, Puerto Ayacucho,1988.

Gabriele Herzog-Schröder and Lelia Delgado (ed.), Orinoco-Parima. Indian Societies of Venezuela. The Cisneros Collection, Fundación Cisneros and Kunst-und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Hatje Cantz Verlag, Stuttgart, 1999. (Editions also available in Spanish and German.)




	The key to their survival has been a keen ability to transform nature's gifts into materials for practical and spiritual use. Over the centuries, many traditions - and lives - have been lost or altered in the inevitable and sometimes violent process of acculturation. Often, only their material culture remains to teach us about the people of the remote Orinoco region. Gathered in the collection are objects from twelve distinct ethnic groups living in Venezuela. Some groups are nomadic, moving between sites as the river and seasons dictate. Others have remained within a prescribed physical area for centuries, each generation passing along the knowledge of custom and belief to the next. Though they maintain their distinct patterns, many groups share common language roots and customs. Over the years, it was not uncommon for outsiders to refer to the indigenous groups by names other than the ones they used themselves. Throughout the site, we have respected the indigenous name. The Panare are referred to as E'ñepa; the Guahibo as Hiwi; the Piapoco as Tsase; the Curripaco as Wakuénai; the Hoti as Hotï, and the Piaroa as De’áruwa (who also use the name Wóthuha.) Sketches of the lives of the indigenous groups represented in the collection provide an important context for understanding their rich material culture. We invite you to learn more about the vital and inspiring legacy of the people of the Orinoco region. References For information on the people of the region and detailed bibliographies: Donald Levinson (ed.), Encyclopedia of World Cultures, Vol. VII, Johannes Wilbert (ed.), South America, MacMillan, Boston, 1994. Walter Coppens (ed.), Los Aborígenes de Venezuela, vol. I, II, III, Fundación La Salle-Monte Avila Editores, Caracas, 1988. Alejandro Signi, Arte y Vida. Catálogo del Museo Etnológico, Vicariato Apostólico de Puerto Ayacucho, Puerto Ayacucho,1988. Gabriele Herzog-Schröder and Lelia Delgado (ed.), Orinoco-Parima. Indian Societies of Venezuela. The Cisneros Collection, Fundación Cisneros and Kunst-und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Hatje Cantz Verlag, Stuttgart, 1999. (Editions also available in Spanish and German.)