Paraujano in Venezuela

People Name:	Paraujano
Country:	Venezuela
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	19,000
World Population:	19,000
Primary Language:	Spanish
Primary Religion:	Christianity
Christian Adherents:	80.00 %
Evangelicals:	1.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Online Audio NT:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South American Indigenous
Affinity Bloc:	Latin-Caribbean Americans
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Paraujano are a First Nations people living in northwest Venezuela. Their language is almost extinct; only a couple of women still speak it.

What Are Their Lives Like?

As a fishing community, the Paraujano staple foods are fish and bananas. They fish with harpoons, bows and arrows and nets. Sometimes they have meat, maize and other vegetables. The coconut palm was introduced to them in the 1800s; now they trade coconut products.

The nuclear family is the basic social unit. Men can have more than one wife, but that that only happens with the very few who have much wealth.

There are four Paraujano villages where the people are more assimilated. They are commercial fishermen who have married outside the Paraujano tribe.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Paraujano believe in a creator god who lives in the sky with his consort. They also have shamans who wears a necklace made of alligator teeth. They believe the souls of the dead cause sickness and the shaman’s work as a spiritual go-between solves health issues.

Most are now Christian, but they probably include these traditional beliefs with their Christianity.

What Are Their Needs?

The Paraujano need access to modern medical facilities.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Paraujano to have access to adequate medical care.

Pray for Paraujano disciples to make more disciples.

Pray for a spiritual hunger that will draw the Paraujano people, especially their shamans, to Jesus Christ.