Naua in Brazil

The Naua have only been reported in Brazil
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

After 100 years some Naua of Brazil emerged from the jungle. Anthropologists believed the Naua died out a century ago due to their harmful contact with Europeans. These Naua are the few hundred people who survived by fleeing to live in the remote Brazilian rainforest.

A third of the Naua under the age of 10. This tribe was long thought to be extinct, although at one time they were the most numerous people of the region.

Representatives from the Naua went to court. The Naua want a legal right to their land. This land is designated by the Brazilian government to be a national park. Since the land is a national park the Naua will have to move to another place, something they do not want to do. The issue will be settled in the Brazilian legal system in the next few years.

Due to their previous contact, the Naua speak Portuguese as their first language. Many resources are available in Portuguese. Unfortunately, many of the Naua are unable to read or write.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Portuguese colonizers captured many Naua and made them slaves on rubber plantations. Some of their women were taken as sex slaves by the colonizers. With the Portuguese came forced labor, war and disease. This soon caused the Indian population to plummet, eventually leading to a retreat into the jungle by the surviving few members of the tribe.

The primary occupations of the Naua are agriculture and hunter-gathering. They grow manioc and maize along with gathering edible forest products. Men also hunt monkeys, birds and wild pigs. Fishing is another way the Naua get food for their families. The Naua live in simple homes made from wood and grasses.

Life expectancy for the Naua is low, about 45 years. This low number is due to their lack of access to modern medicine.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Almost all Naua practice folk religion with ancestor veneration. Animism is the belief that spirits inhabit the objects of nature such as tree, rocks, animals, rivers, and the sky. They live in constant fear that the evil spirits will come and bring disaster upon the people. These spirits must be appeased by offering, prayers and rituals. The village shaman connects the Naua with the spirit world. The village shaman provides charms and rituals to protect the Naua.

A tiny group of Naua claim to be Roman Catholic Christians.


What Are Their Needs?

A member of the National Indian Foundation (NIF) commented, "These are authentic Naua and should have their rights and land restored." Instead, their land has been designated as a national park. As indigenous people, the Naua say they should not have to give up their land as it has always been their home. The Naua have huge physical and spiritual needs. They need access to modern medicine. They a regular source of food and clean water. Most of all, the Naua must hear the good news of Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and deliver them from their fear of evil spirits.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Lord will direct the Naua into constructive lives and a prosperous future.

Pray that the Lord will send the Naua spiritual help through the JESUS Film, gospel radio and other resources.

Pray for adults as well as children to receive basic literacy skills.

Pray that the word of God will be available to them in their own language, bringing many to Christ.

Pray that their land dispute will be settled in a just and honorable way.


Scripture Prayers for the Naua in Brazil.


References

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/americas/08/17/lost.people.brazil.reut/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/885341.stm

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/lost-tribe-emerges-from-rainforest-after-100-years-711273.html


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Naua
People Name in Country Naua
Alternate Names Náua; Nawa; Xocó
Population this Country 500
Population all Countries 500
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 19138
ROP3 Code 115120
ROP25 Code 305923
ROP25 Name Nawa
Country Brazil
Region America, Latin
Continent South America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Acre state   Source:  AMTB 2019
Country Brazil
Region America, Latin
Continent South America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Acre state.   Source:  AMTB 2019

No people group map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.


Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
1.00 %
Ethnic Religions
99.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Portuguese (500 speakers)
Language Code por   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Portuguese (500 speakers)
Language Code por   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Portuguese

Primary Language:  Portuguese

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1505-2004)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1681-2004)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1751-2017)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus film: view in Portuguese Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video Walking with Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024