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Huni Kuin
Kaxinawá

Huni Kuin village in Acre
Total population
9,954
Regions with significant populations
Brazil (Acre)
Brazil	7,535 (2010)
Peru	2,419 (2007)
Languages
Kashinawa
Religion
Traditional tribal religion

The Huni Kuin (also known as: Kaxinawá, Cashinahua, Kaschinawa, Kashinawa, Caxinauás) are an Indigenous people of Brazil and Peru. Their villages are located along the Purus and Curanja Rivers in Peru and the Tarauacá, Jordão, Breu, Muru, Envira, Humaitã, and Purus Rivers in Brazil.

In the Peruvian Amazon rainforest, some Huni Kuin live on the Alto Purús Indigenous Territory with the Kulina people.

Name

The name Huni Kuin means "true people" or "people with traditions". The alternative name Kaxinawá means "cannibals", "bat people" and "people who walk about at night". It is still widespread in literature, yet the Huni Kuin reject the name as an insult.

Language

The Huni Kuin speak the Kaxinawá language, a Panoan language. They call their language Hancha Kuin, meaning "real words." Only 5% to 10% of the Huni Kuin in Peru speak Spanish and literacy rates are low.

Economy

Hunting is of paramount importance in Huni Kuin society. Huni Kuin also fish, gather plant foods, and grow crops through swidden, or slash-and-burn horticulture. Rice has become an export crop.

Women weave baskets, string bead jewelry, create utilitarian ceramics and weave hammocks and clothing. Men weave certain baskets, carve tools from wood, create featherwork and ceremonial regalia, and make canoes and weapons, such as clubs, spears, and bows and arrows. In hunting, shotguns are popular.

Notes

1. ^ "Kaxinawá: Introduction." Povos Indígenas no Brasil. Retrieved 8 Dec 2011.
2. ^ "Kashinawa." Ethnologue. Retrieved 8 Dec 2011.
3. ^ "Kaxinawá: Location." Povos Indígenas no Brasil. Retrieved 8 Dec 2011.
4. Povos Indígenas no Brasil (Instituto Socioambiental): Huni Kuin (Kaxinawá)
5. ^ "Economy - Kashinawa." Countries and Their Cultures. Retrieved 8 Dec 2011.

v t e Indigenous peoples of Brazil
Indigenous peoples of the North Region Acre Apurinã Asháninka Kaxinawá Kulina Machinere Yaminawá Amapá Aparai Kalina Karipuna Palikur Wayampi Amazonas Amahuaca Apurinã Banawá Baniwa Barasana Bora Cambeba Cubeo Dâw Hupda Jamamadi Juma Korubo Kulina Macuna Mawé Matis Matsés Munduruku Mura Parintintín Pirahã Pira-tapuya Siriano Tariana Tembé Tenharim Ticuna Tiriyó Tucano Turiwára Wai-wai Wayampi Wayana White Indians Witoto Yanomami Zuruahã Pará Amanayé Anambé Aparai Apiacá Arara (Pará) Araweté Atikum Karajá Kayapo Kỳikatêjê Munduruku Parkatêjê Parakanã Suruí (Pará) Tembé Tiriyó Turiwára Wai-wai Wayampi Wayana Zo'é Rondônia Aikanã Akuntsu Arara (Rondônia) Cinta Larga Gavião (Rondônia) Kanoê Karitiana Kwaza Paiter Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau Wari’ Roraima Akawaio Macushi Patamona Pemon Wapishana Yanomami Ye'kuana Tocantins Apinajé Karajá Krahô Tapirapé Xambioá Xerente
Indigenous peoples of the Northeast Region Bahia Pataxó Ceará Kiriri Tabajara Tapeba Maranhão Awá-Guajá Canela Guajajara Ka'apor Krĩkatí Gavião-Pykobjê Paraíba Potiguara Pernambuco Xukuru
Indigenous peoples of the Central-West Region Goiás Avá-Canoeiro Karajá Mato Grosso Aimoré Apiacá Aweti Bakairi Bororo Chiquitano Cinta Larga Enawene Nawe Guató Ikpeng Kaiabi Kalapalo Kamayurá Karajá Kayapo Kuikuro Matipu Munduruku Nahukuá Nambikwara Paiter Panará Paresi Rikbaktsa Kĩsêdjê (Suyá) Tapayúna Tapirapé Terena Trumai Umutina Wauja Xavante Yawalapiti Yudjá Zoró Mato Grosso do Sul Chamacoco Guarani-Kaiowá Guató Kadiweu Mbayá Ofayé Terena
Indigenous peoples of the South and Southeast Regions Espírito Santo Tupiniquim Minas Gerais Aimoré Kaxixó Xakriabá Santa Catarina Xokleng São Paulo Aimoré Kaingang Terena Widespread Kaingang

• Indigenous peoples in Brazil
• Indigenous peoples in Peru
• Indigenous peoples of the Amazon
• Hunter-gatherers of South America