World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Brazil : Tikuna
- Document source:
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Date:
2008
Profile
The Tikuna are known as Tikuna, Tukuna and Magüta. In 1998 it was recorded that there were 32,613 living in the greater Amazonas region. Their language is known as Ticuna (data: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística).
Historical context
In 1988, 14 Tikuna living on the Solimões in western Amazonas were murdered at the Capacete Creek near São Leopoldo, while trying to defend their land. Six of the murdered Tikuna were children. The logger who ordered the killings was sentenced for genocide in 2001, along with 14 others involved. This was only the third such genocide ruling in Brazilian history.
Current issues
In 2004 the sentences were reduced for the man who ordered the Tikuna murders, along with the 14 others tried in absentia. The Tikuna remain threatened and are being persecuted in the region. There has been little information gathered or written on the culture and traditions of this community that faces annihilation.
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