Waorani in Ecuador
Photo Source:
Anonymous
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| People Name: | Waorani |
| Country: | Ecuador |
| 10/40 Window: | No |
| Population: | 2,700 |
| World Population: | 2,700 |
| Primary Language: | Waorani |
| Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
| Christian Adherents: | 40.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 15.00 % |
| Scripture: | New Testament |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | South American Indigenous |
| Affinity Bloc: | Latin-Caribbean Americans |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
The Waorani people are also called Huaorani, Waos or Waodani. They live in the Amazon region of eastern Ecuador. Their name means “human” or “men.”
They had a traumatic experiences in the 20th century when the rubber and oil interests came to their land looking for new opportunities. The Waorani people have been immortalized through the movie, “The End of the Speer” that dramatized their 1950 killing of missionaries.
What Are Their Lives Like?
The Waorani people get what they need from trees and wild game in the Amazon jungle. For this reason they are adept at climbing trees and using blowguns as hunting weapons.
They hunt and eat most animals they find in the jungle except deer. This taboo is because they believe the deer eyes look much like human eyes. Nor do they eat birds of prey. They feel a sense of guilt for hunting, because they believe the animals they kill contain an important spirit. For that reason, they have shamans who perform rituals before every hunt. These rituals are to express their respect for the animal’s spirit.
The Waorani have an amazing knowledge of the geography of their homeland. They also know what plants are good to be used as medicine.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Though there is a high percentage of Waorani who profess faith in Christ, they still retain their traditional beliefs as well. They have a pantheistic worldview where the spirit world and the physical worlds are merged. This worldview affects how they understand spirituality.
What Are Their Needs?
In 1990, Ecuador established the Waorani Ethnic Reserve in an attempt to protect the homeland of the Waorani people from outsiders. In 2023 they stopped oil drilling in this part. However, things can change rapidly. Like most people from this region, the Waorani people need protection from those who want to exploit the resources in their homeland. Typically tribal homelands are exploited and the people are scattered, often to urban areas where they are not prepared to survive.
Prayer Points
Pray for the Lord to protect the Waorani people from harm.
Pray that Christ followers will prepare them with job skills when they are forced to move out of their homeland.
Pray for Waorani elders to embrace living faith in the living savior.
Pray that soon there will be Waorani disciples who disciple less reached tribes in South America.