Puinave in Venezuela


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, there was a rubber boom in South America that caused great harm to indigenous peoples like the Puinave. Their home of the Puinave borders a savanna and a tropical rain forest. They live mainly in Colombia and Venezuela, but a small number have migrated to the United States.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In their South American homeland, the Puinave survive through slash-and-burn farming, fishing and hunting. Their yearly cycle centers around the wet and dry seasons. The only crop that they plant two seasons in a row is manioc, a root vegetable that grows well in the jungle. They also keep their fruit trees alive for yearly harvests. As farmers they are well acquainted with various soil types and their uses. Village territory is owned by the group, but families have rights to the produce they cultivate and the goods they gather from the jungle. They also have fishing rights to certain places. At one time they used blowguns and poison darts for hunting, but now they use shotguns.
Youths are initiated during a time of sexual abstinence and hallucinogenic drugs at which time they are taught their mythology and rituals. Evangelical missionaries have tried to get them to replace these practices.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Over half of the Puinave are Christian, usually Roman Catholic, but sometimes Evangelical. Their traditional beliefs remain to this day. Some blend these with Christianity while others stay true to the old religion.


What Are Their Needs?

The Puinave people need to put Jesus first in their lives. They need to understand the Bible and use it to discern what cultural practices please God and which ones need to be discarded.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Puinave people to put Jesus first and learn from him so they can have rest for their souls.
Pray for Puinave Christ followers to teach others who in turn will teach even more people about the Savior.
Pray for the Lord to provide the Puinave with justice and mercy as a testimony of his power and goodness.


Scripture Prayers for the Puinave in Venezuela.


References

https://www.everyculture.com/South-America/Puinave.html
https://www.paho.org/en/stories/video-search-trachoma-venezuela-opportunity-provide-integrated-health-care


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Puinave
People Name in Country Puinave
Alternate Names Puinabe
Population this Country 1,500
Population all Countries 11,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 3
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 14468
ROP3 Code 108161
ROP25 Code 306825
ROP25 Name Puinave
Country Venezuela
Region America, Latin
Continent South America
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Amazonas state: lower Guaviare and Inírida river basins down to San Fernando de Atabapo region.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Venezuela
Region America, Latin
Continent South America
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Amazonas state: lower Guaviare and Inírida river basins down to San Fernando de Atabapo region..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.70 %)
60.00 %
Ethnic Religions
40.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Puinave (1,500 speakers)
Language Code pui   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Puinave (1,500 speakers)
Language Code pui   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Puinave
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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