Introduction / History

The Mehinaku people live near the Tuatuari and Kurisevo Rivers in western Brazil s state of Mato Grosso.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Mehinaku huts house 10-12 people with no internal walls. Everyone knows what everyone else is doing. They get their food by growing manioc and maize. Men hunt and fish for their meat supply. This tribe also produces salt for trading.

Mehinaku people marry cross-counselors between the ages of 14 and 18. Marriage ceremonies are simple. The man s friends help him move his hammock to the bride s family home. While moving it, the men make baby noises to ensure fertility. Once married, the husband must provide for his bride and her family through hunting and fishing. The couple can move to the husband s house after they have more than one child.

They greatly value children, especially since their population is so low. Children are nurtured by the mother, then at age three he/she is often raised by an older sister. Small children eventually join a playgroup made up of those from their own age bracket. They begin to learn crafts from their parents. As teenagers, they live in seclusion, learning food taboos and not going out at night. Boys learn to wrestle, which is the hallmark of masculinity and a way of gaining strength. Boys and girls are both looked over by a spirit they call the master of medicines during this time before they find a marriage partner.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Though almost half are officially Roman Catholic, they are basically animistic. They depend on their traditional gods rather than the God of Creation.

What Are Their Needs?

The Mehinaku people need to adapt to a changing world. They will eventually need education in new areas. This will take them out of their comfort zone.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to provide protection and mercy for the Mehinaku people of Brazil.
Pray for members of the Mehinaku tribe who love the Lord to teach Christ to others.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among the Mehinaku people this decade, providing them with a hope and a purpose.

Scripture Prayers for the Mehinaku in Brazil.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehinaku
https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/mehinaku
https://pib.socioambiental.org/en/Povo:Mehinako
https://www.unl.edu/rhames/courses/ppoint/mehinaku.pdf