Kaiwá

Guarani-Kaiowá

Chief Hamilton Lopez of the Guarani-Kaiowás
Total population
18,510 (2003)
Regions with significant populations
Brazil,  Argentina
Languages
Kaiwá language
Religion
traditional tribal religion, Protestant, Catholic, Atheism
Related ethnic groups
Pai Tavytera

Guarani-Kaiowás (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɡwaɾaˈni kaj.uˈwa]) are an indigenous people of Paraguay, the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul and northeastern Argentina. In Brazil, they inhabit Nhande Ru Marangatu, an area of tropical rainforest. This was declared a reservation in October 2004. Marcos Verón, a leader of this people was beaten to death in January 2003.

They are one of the three Guaraní sub-groups (the others are Ñandeva and Mbya).

They mainly live in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul. It is estimated that more than 30,000 Guaranis live in Brazil. In Paraguay they number about 40,000. The Guaraní language is one of the official languages of Paraguay, alongside the Spanish language.

The Guarani-Kaiowá are also known as the Kaiwá, Caingua, Caiua, Caiwa, Cayua, Kaiova, and Kayova. These spellings were largely devised by Europeans, The National Museum of Brazil (Portuguese: Museu Nacional) keeps records of the earliest Latinized forms for transcribing the name on behalf of the people, coincidentally Kaiowá means exactly this 'the people' - in their own language.

They speak the Kaiwá language, a Tupi-Guarani language, Subgroup I. Literacy is extremely low—from 5% to 10%. Kaiwá is written in the Latin script.

The Guaraní sub-groups have different ways of social organisation, but they share a religion which sees the land as very important. The god Ñande Ru created the Guarani as the first peoples and the Guarani are deeply spiritual, as there's a prayer house in every village and the cacique, shaman, is of great importance in the community.