Parakana in Brazil

People Name:	Parakana
Country:	Brazil
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	1,000
World Population:	1,000
Primary Language:	Parakana
Primary Religion:	Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents:	20.00 %
Evangelicals:	2.00 %
Scripture:	Portions
Ministry Resources:	No
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Guarani
Affinity Bloc:	Latin-Caribbean Americans
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

In north-central Brazil, rivers braid the landscape, pouring through the rainforests of the Amazon Basin. There the Parakanã people have made their home for many generations.

Throughout the Parakanã's Amazon homeland, rivers team with fish. Cashews, oil palms and other forest products are available for the industrious to claim and sell. Gardens provide corn, beans, cassava, yams and various fruits. Many of the people grow sugar cane or keep domesticated stock and fowl.

In mingling with outsiders, the Parakanã know that their traditional lifestyle may be in jeopardy. They need a firm, unshakable foundation to weather the social challenges facing them individually and as a people.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Some among the Parakanã have come to faith in Christ through the Scripture portions already available in their language. But many still fear the spirits they have long believed control their lives. In this fear-based system, traditional religion practitioners hold ultimate authority over relationships, health issues and spiritual uncertainties. People pay dearly for consultations with these spirit mediators.

There are no statistics available regarding the number of Christians among the Parakanã. Scripture portions are available in their language, and now Parakanã speakers have been trained as Bible translators themselves. This project will give the Church some seriously needed background from the Old Testament, Church history and pastoral material.