Wayampi, Oiapoque in French Guiana

People Name:	Wayampi, Oiapoque
Country:	French Guiana
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	800
World Population:	1,800
Primary Language:	Wayampi
Primary Religion:	Ethnic Religions
Christian Adherents:	20.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.30 %
Scripture:	New Testament
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South American Indigenous
Affinity Bloc:	Latin-Caribbean Americans
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Amapari live in northern Brazil and are one of two groups of the Wyampi. The Amapari are proud of their language and identity. The Amapari live in an extended-family structure. The same term used for mother is also used for their mother's sisters. The society is patriarchal and matrilocal - meaning that families generally stay near their mother's family. Amapari generally marry within their tribal group to cross-cousins - this sometimes makes it difficult for young people to find potential spouses.

The Amapari are a friendly people open to developing new relationships with people whom they perceive to have a genuine interest in them. Daily sustenance is provided through hunting/gathering and farming. Staples of the diet include manioc, game, and crops they raise, such as corn. They live in thatched-roof houses which have no walls and may be one or two levels. Men generally wear loin cloths and women wear wrap-around skirts. Needs range from medical-care, agricultural training, cultural adjustment, and education as they adjust to increasing contact with the outside world. Scripture work has been made more difficult by the inability of expatriates to gain direct access to village areas. The New Testament has been available since 2003. The JESUS Film is also available in this language. Distribution of completed literature remains a concern.