The Venezuelan Indigenous Population

Why Should We Care?

Venezuela has become forefront in the news lately due to the derogatory remarks made by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez against American President George Bush at the United Nations on September 20, 2006. Now that we have heard the political chutzpah, let’s concentrate on one of the country’s more interesting topics, the Venezuelan indigenous population.

The dense Amazon jungle is home to some of Venezuela’s thirty-three indigenous tribes. They have kept their ancient traditional ways in tact and the peoples of the Venezuelan indigenous population live fascinating and primitive lifestyles.

On the Orinoco Delta, approximately 20,000 nomadic Warao Indians live among exotic wildlife such as puma, jaguar, and anaconda. In contrast to our modern airplanes and automobiles, dugout canoes are the Warao Indians mode of transportation. This secluded segment of the Venezuelan indigenous population has had very little contact with the outside world for over 20,000 years.

Surrounded by amazing, table-top mountains and luscious waterfalls, the Pemon Indians make their home. This area is also home to the longest waterfall in the world, Angel Falls. Its fall is 19 times longer than the Niagara Falls, or 3 times taller than the Empire State Building. The Pemon Indians are primitive, spiritual people living in small, close-knit villages.

All together, according to Nicia Maldonado, President of the National Indigenous Council of Venezuela (CONIVE), there are approximately 800,000 indigenous people in Venezuela. Yet, as far away from it all as the Venezuelan indigenous population may be, two distinct issues are affecting their lives right now; Misión Guaicaipuro and New Tribes Mission. Though their names may be similar, their purposes are worlds apart.