List of contemporary ethnic groups of South America

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The following is a list of contemporary ethnic groups of South America. There has been constant debate over the classification of ethnic groups. Membership of an ethnic group tends to be associated with shared ancestry, history, homeland, language or dialect and cultural heritage; where the term "culture" specifically includes aspects such as religion, mythology and ritual, cuisine, dressing (clothing) style and other factors.

Contents

By the nature of the concept, ethnic groups tend to be divided into subgroups, may themselves be or not be identified as independent ethnic groups depending on the source consulted.

South America here is considered to be approximately delimited from Africa by the South Atlantic Ocean; from North America by the Darién Gap and the portion of the Caribbean Sea south of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Nueva Esparta, Providencia, San Andrés, Trinidad, and Tobago; and from Oceania by the East Pacific Rise connecting the Pacific and Nazca Plates as well as by its intersection with the Chile Ridge at the Juan Fernández Microplate.

Ethnic groups

The following groups are commonly identified as "ethnic groups", as opposed to ethno-linguistic phyla, national groups, racial groups or similar. [1] [2]

EthnicityLanguage(s)Primary homelandSubgroups, tribes & castesReligion(s)
Achagua Arawakan → Upper Amazon Arawakan → Achagua Colombia (Meta), Venezuela Támara, Nunchía, Yopal, Tauramena, Recetor, Chámeza, Paya, Labranzagrande Traditional religion, Christianity → Catholicism
Aché Tupian → Guarani → Aché Paraguay Cerro Moroti, Ypetimi, Puerto Barra, Chupa Pou, Kuetuvy, Arroyo Bandera Native American religion
Achuar Chicham → Achuar Peru (Peruvian Amazonia), Ecuador (Oriente) Huasaga [3] Christianity, Shamanism, Animism
Afro-Argentines Indo-European → Romance → Spanish → Rioplatense Spanish Argentina Christianity → Catholicism
Afro-Brazilians Indo-European → Romance → Portuguese → Brazilian Portuguese, Cafundó BrazilChristianity → Catholicism
Afro-Bolivians Indo-European → Romance → Spanish → Bolivian Spanish Bolivia (Bolivian Yungas)Christianity → Catholicism
Afro-Chileans Indo-European → Romance → Spanish → Chilean Spanish Chile (Arica y Parinacota Region, Tarapacá Region and Santiago Metropolitan Region)Christianity → Catholicism
Afro-Colombians Indo-European → Romance → Spanish → Colombian Spanish; Indo-European → Spanish-based creole → Palenquero; Indo-European → English-based creole → San Andres-Providencia Creole Colombia (Pacific region, Caribbean region) Palenques, Raizals Christianity → Catholicism
Afro-Ecuadorians Various African languages → Forced loss of languages due to slavery in the Americas
Spanish (adopted language)		 Ecuador (Esmeraldas Province, Guayaquil, Valle del Chota, Imbabura Province Sucumbíos Province)Christianity → Catholicism
Afro-Guyanese Various African languages → Forced loss of languages due to slavery in the Americas
English (adopted language)→ Guyanese Creole 		Guyana Christianity → Catholicism; Protestantism → Anglicanism, Methodism, Calvinism, Baptist, etc; Afro-American religions; Traditional African religions; Islam; Rastafari; Comfa
Afro-Paraguayans Various African languages → Forced loss of languages due to slavery in the Americas
Spanish (adopted language)		 Paraguay (Central Department, Paraguari Department and Cordillera Department)Christianity → Catholicism
Afro-Peruvians Various African languages → Forced loss of languages due to slavery in the Americas
Spanish (adopted language)		 Peru (Lima, Piura, Lambayeque, Tumbes and Ica)Christianity → Catholicism, Protestantism; Buddhism; Animism, etc
Afro-Surinamese Various African languages → Forced loss of languages due to slavery in the Americas
Dutch (adopted language)
English (adopted language) → Sranan Tongo, Aukan, Kwinti
English + Portuguese → Saramaccan 		Suriname Christianity, Winti
Afro-Uruguayans Various African languages → Forced loss of languages due to slavery in the Americas
Spanish (adopted language) → Rioplatense Spanish
Spanish + Portuguese → Portuñol 		Uruguay Christianity → Catholicism, Protestantism; etc
Afro-Venezuelans Various African languages → Forced loss of languages due to slavery in the Americas
Spanish (adopted language)		 Venezuela (Venezuelan Caribbean and Barlovento)Christianity → Catholicism, Protestantism; Birongo; Cult to María Lionza
Aguaruna Chicham → Aguaruna Peru (Peruvian Amazonia)Yutupiza, Japaime [4] Christianity, Shamanism, Animism
Aikana Aikana language Brazil (Rondonia)Tubarão-Latundê, Vilhena [5] Animism
Apanyekra Macro-Je → Je → Canela Brazil (Northeast Region) Ethnic religion
Apinajé Macro-Je → Je → Apinayé Brazil (Tocantins) Animism
Atacama Kunza Chile (Atacama Desert, Altiplano), Argentina (Altiplano), Bolivia (Antofagasta Region) Inca Religion
Awa Barbacoan → Awan → Awa Colombia (Narino), Ecuador (Carchi)Christianity
Aymara Aymaran → Aymara Bolivia, Peru, ChileChristianity → Catholicism
Baniwa Arawakan → Upper Amazon Arawakan → Karu Brazil (Amazonas), Colombia (Amazonas), Venezuela (Amazonas) Traditional religion; Christianity → Catholicism
Boeroes Indo-European → Germanic → Dutch → Surinaams Suriname Christianity
Bororo Macro-Je → Bororoan → Bororo Brazil (Mato Grosso) Animism
Cabiyari Arawakan → Upper Amazon Arawakan → Cabiyari Colombia (Vaupes)Christianity
Caquetio Arawakan → Ta-Arawakan → Caquetio Venezuela (Falcón, Zulia), formerly Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire (Netherlands) Native American religion
Chachi [note 1] Barbacoan → Chaʼpalaa Ecuador (Esmeraldas)Christianity → Catholicism, Native American religion [6]
Charrúa Charruan languages [note 2] Uruguay Chaná Animism
Chiquitano Macro-Jê(?) → Chiquitano Bolivia (Santa Cruz),

Brazil (Mato Grosso)

Tao, Miñoco, ManasiChristianity → Catholicism; Traditional Religion
Cinta Larga Tupian → Monde → Cinta Larga Brazil (Amazon rainforest) Indigenous religion, Santo Daime
Cofan Cofan language Ecuador (Sucumbios), Colombia (Putumayo) Animism
Embera Choco → Embera [note 2] Colombia (Choco Department), Panama (Darien, Embera) Shamanism
Ese Ejja Tacanan → Ese Ejja Bolivia (Beni, La Paz, Pando)

Peru (Madre de Dios)

Christianity → Catholicism; Traditional Religion
Falkland Islanders Indo-European → Germanic → English → Falkland Islands English British Overseas Territories (Falkland Islands)Christianity
Gaviao (Je) Macro-Je → Je → Para Gaviao → Parkateje, Macro-Je → Je → Para Gaviao → Pykobje Brazil (Pará, Maranhão) Parkateje, Pykobje Animism
Gaviao (Rondonia) Tupian → Monde → Gavião of Jiparaná Brazil (Rondonia) Animism
Guajajara Tupian → Tenetehara Brazil (Maranhão) Shamanism, Santo Daime
Guarani Tupian → Guarani Paraguay, Argentina (Misiones), Bolivia Chiriguanos Christianity → Catholicism
Hispanic Americans Indo-European → Romance → Spanish → American Spanish South America (Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay) Colombian (Cundinamarqués, Bogotan, Boyacense, Santandereano, Huilense, Tolimense, Paisa, Caucano, Pastuso, Valluno, Llanero, Amazonian Colombian, Guajiro, Sabanero, Samario, Vallenato, Chochoano, Tumaqueño, Basque-Colombian, Colombian-American), Argentinian (North Argentinian, Guaranitic, Cuyano, Cordobes, Puntano, Litoraleno, Porteno, Patagonian, Basque-Argentinian, Argentinian-American), Peruvian (Ecuatorial Peruvian, Coastal Peruvian, Andean Peruvian, Amazonian Peruvian, Peruvian-American), Hispanic Venezuelans (Amazonian Venezuelans, Llaneros, Andean Venezuelans, Western Venezuelans, Eastern Venezuelan, Island Venezuelans, Caraquenos, Zulianos, Central Venezuelans, Venezuelan-American, Venezuelan-Colombian), Chilean (Chilean-American), Ecuadorian (Quitenos, Riobambenos, Cuencanos, Lojano, Esmeraldeno, Manabita, Guayaco, Amazonian Ecuadorian, Galapagueños, Ecuadorian Americans), Bolivian (Bolivian-American), Paraguayan (Paraguayan-American), Uruguayans (including Uruguayan Americans), along with significant populations in the United States, Spain, France, Canada, Italy, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, Portugal, Australia and Sweden Christianity → Catholicism
Huambisa Chicham → Huambisa Peru (Peruvian Amazonia), Ecuador (Oriente)Christianity, Shamanism, Animism
Hunsrikers Indo-European → Germanic → Hunsrik Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) Christianity → Catholicism, Protestantism
Indo-Caribbeans Indo-European → Germanic → English → English Creole; Indo-European → Germanic → Dutch → Surinamese Dutch; Indo-European → Romance → Portuguese → Papiamento; Indo-European → Indo-Aryan → Hindustani → Caribbean Hindustani; Dravidian → Tamiloid → Tamil Guyana, Suriname Indo-Guyanese, Indo-Surinamese, with significant populations in the United States and the United Kingdom Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Baháʼí
Kaingang Macro-Je → Je → Kaingang [note 2] Brazil (Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Sao Paulo) Shamanism
Kamentsa Camsa language Colombia (Putumayo)Christianity
Kawesqar Alacalufan → Kawesqar Chile (Chilean Patagonia, Wellington Island)Christianity → Protestantism
Kayapo Macro-Je → Je → Kayapo Brazil (Pará, Mato Grosso)Animism
Kiriri Indo-European → Romance → Portuguese → Brazilian Portuguese; formerly Macro-Jê → Kariri Brazil (Ceará) Toré religion [7]
Kraho Macro-Je → Je → Kraho Brazil (Terra Indigena Kraolandia)Animism
Kwinti Indo-European → English Creole → Kwinti Suriname Christianity → Moravian Church
Luso-Brazilians Indo-European → Romance → Portuguese → Brazilian Portuguese Brazil North Brazilians, Northeast Brazilians, Central-West Brazilians, Southeast Brazilians (includes Caipiras), South Brazilians (including Paranaenses, Riograndenses, and Catarinenses), along with significant populations in the United States, Portugal, Paraguay, United Kingdom, Japan, Italy, Spain, Germany, Canada, Argentina, France, Switzerland, French Guiana, Australia, Ireland, Mexico, Uruguay, Belgium, Bolivia, Netherlands, and Suriname Christianity → Catholicism
Macushi Cariban → Macushi Guyana (Rupununi), Brazil (Roraima) Shamanism
Mapuche Araucanian languages [note 2] [note 3] Chile (Araucania), Argentina Huilliche, Moluche, Pehuenche Christianity, Mapuche religion
Matawai Indo-European → Germanic → English → Saramaccan Suriname Christianity → Moravian Church
Mennonites Indo-European → Germanic → German, Dutch; Romance → Spanish South America Significant populations in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay Christianity → Anabaptism → Mennonitism
Misak Barbacoan → Northern Barbacoan → Coconucan → Nam Trik Colombia (Cauca) Traditional religion, Christianity → Catholicism
Muiscas Chibchan → Chibcha Colombia (Altiplano Cundiboyacense) Muisca religion, Christianity → Catholicism
Paramaccan Indo-European → Germanic → English → Ndyuka Suriname (Pamacca) Winti
Pardo Indo-European → Romance → Portuguese BrazilChristianity → Catholicism
Pataxó Macro-Jê → Maxakalian → Pataxó Brazil (Bahia) Shamanism
Piapoco Arawakan → Upper Amazon Arawakan → Piapoco Colombia (Meta), Venezuela Traditional religion, Christianity → Catholicism
Potiguara Tupian → Potiguara' Indo-European → Romance → Portuguese Brazil (Paraíba) Shamanism
Quechua Quechuan [note 2] Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina Ayacucho, Cajamarca–Canaris, Central, Chachapoyas, Cusco, Inga, Huanca, Kichwa, Lamas, North Bolivian, Pacaraos, Puno, Santiagueno, South Bolivian Christianity → Catholicism, Inca religion
Qulla Quechuan → Quechua II → Southern Quechua Qullaw (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile)Christianity → Catholicism
Ramkokamekra Macro-Je → Je → Canela Brazil (Northeast Region) Animism
Ranquel Araucanian → Mapudungun → Ranquel Argentina (La Pampa Province) Native American religion [8]
Saramaka Indo-European → Germanic → English → Saramaccan Suriname Winti, Christianity → Moravian Church
Selk'nam Chonan → Selk'nam, Indo-European → Romance → Spanish Tierra del Fuego (Argentina, Chile) Animism, Christianity
Shiriana Arawakan → Shiriana, Arutani language Brazil (Amazonas, Amazon rainforest), Venezuela (Amazon rainforest) Auake Animism [9]
Shuar Chicham → Shuar Peru (Peruvian Amazonia), Ecuador (Oriente)Christianity, Shamanism, Animism
Siona Tucanoan → Western Tucanoan → Siona Ecuador (Sucumbios), Colombia (Putumayo) Animism
Tapayuna Macro-Jê → Jê → Tapayuna Brazil (Mato Grosso) Ethnoreligion
Tehuelche Chonan → Tehuelche, Araucanian → Mapudungun, Indo-European → Romance → Spanish Argentina (eastern Patagonia) Animism, Christianity
Terena Arawakan → Terena; Brazilian Sign language; Terena Sign language Brazil (Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul) Shamanism
Ticuna Ticuna–Yuri → Ticuna Brazil (Amazonas) Shamanism
Trumai Trumai Brazil (Mato Grosso) Animism
Tsimané Macro-Panoan → Moseten–Chonan → Tsimané Bolivia (Beni)Mosetén Traditional tribal religion [10]
Uru Uru-Chipaya → Uru; Aymaran → Aymara Bolivia (La Paz),

Peru (Puno)

Christianity → Catholicism; Traditional Religion
Wayuu Arawakan → Wayuunaiki Colombia (La Guajira), Venezuela Ethnic religion, Christianity → Catholicism
Xavante Macro-Je → Je → Xavante Brazil (Mato Grosso) Shamanism
Xerente Macro-Je → Je → Xerente Brazil (Tocantins)Christianity and traditional folk religion → Folk Catholicism [11]
Xokleng Macro-Je → Je → Xokleng Brazil (Santa Catarina) Shamanism [12]
Yahgan Yahgan; Indo-European → Romance → Spanish Tierra del Fuego (Argentina, Chile)Christianity → Protestantism
Yanomami Yanomaman Southeastern Venezuela, and northern Brazil Shamanism
Zoró Tupian → Monde → Gavião of Jiparaná → ZoróBrazil (Mato Grosso)Christianity

Notes

  1. ↑ Otherwise known as Cayapas.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Language family; with some exceptions, all speakers of the various languages within this family are typically seen as one singular ethnicity.
  3. ↑ Due to gradual Hispanicization following the Occupation of Araucania, the majority of Mapuche can only speak Spanish.

References

  1. ↑ Levinson, David (1998). Ethnic Groups Worldwide: A Ready Reference Handbook . Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN   978-1-57356-019-1.
  2. ↑ Goran Burenhult, Traditional Peoples Today: Continuity and Change in the Modern World Illustrated History of Humankind, vol. 5 (1994).
  3. ↑ Peas Kantash, Yankuam Jintia: "Achuar Matsatmau" Mundo Achuar. CAAAP. Lima-Perú. 1991
  4. ↑ Yagkug, Abel; Isaac Paz Suikai, y Jaime Regan. (1998). Diccionario aguaruna-castellano, awajún chícham apáchnaujai. Lima: Centro Amazónico de Antropología y Aplicación Práctica.
  5. ↑ "Aikaña: Location and Demographics." Povos Indígenas no Brasil. (retrieved 27 April 2011)
  6. ↑ "Los Chachis o Cayapas". www.diariopinion.com. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  7. ↑ "Kiriri: Introduction." Povos Indígenas no Brasil. (retrieved 13 Aug 2011)
  8. ↑ Censo Nacional de Población, Hogares y Viviendas 2010 Archived 2016-04-09 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ Migliazza, Ernest; Grimes, Joseph E. (1961). "Shiriana Phonology". Anthropological Linguistics. 3 (6): 31–41. ISSN   0003-5483. JSTOR   30022319.
  10. ↑ "Tsimané." Ethnologue. Retrieved 22 Feb 2012.
  11. ↑ Oliveira Reis, Francisco (2001). Aspectos do contato e formas sócioculturais da sociedade Akwen-Xerente (Jê) [Aspects of contact and socio-cultural forms of the Akwen-Xerente (Jê) society](PDF). University of Brasil.
  12. ↑ Wiik, Flavio (March 26, 2018). "Xokleng - Indigenous Peoples in Brazil". Indigenous Peoples in Brazil. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
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