User:Anandks007/Uncontacted peoples

Uncontacted peoples, also referred to as isolated peoples or lost tribes, are communities who live, or have lived, either by choice (peoples living in voluntary isolation) or by circumstance, without significant contact with globalized civilization. Few peoples have remained totally uncontacted by global civilization. Indigenous rights activists call for such groups to be left alone, stating that it will interfere with their right to self-determination. Most uncontacted communities are located in densely forested areas in South America, New Guinea and India. Knowledge of the existence of these groups comes mostly from infrequent and sometimes violent encounters with neighboring tribes, and from aerial footage. Isolated tribes may lack immunity to common diseases, which can kill a large percentage of their people after contact.

Uncontacted peoples who went extinct recently
Since most of the uncontacted tribes number only a handful of people, they are extremely vulnerable to massacres and diseases. A number of uncontacted tribes have died out in the past decades, although the information is available for only a few of them. One of the relatively better known examples is that of the Xokleng da Serra do Tabuleiro tribe. They were an uncontacted subgroup of the Xokleng (Botocudo) tribe, which resided in the Parque Estadual da Serra do Tabuleiro (Municipalities of Anitápolis and São Bonifácio), State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. This tribe became extinct during the 1970s.

A group of uncontacted Ava-Canoero Indians were reported from Unaí in 1984.

Uncontacted peoples on their way to extinction
Many of the uncontacted tribes are on their way to extinction. For example, in the Terra Indigena Tanaru, there remains one elderly uncontacted Indian, who is the last member of his tribe. The remainder of his tribe were massacred by loggers and ranchers in the mid 1980s. Filmmaker Vincent Carelli, working with two sertanistas, Marcelo dos Santos and Altair Algayer, documented what appears to have been a genocide perpetrated in 1995 by ranchers against a previously unknown indigenous group (Carelli, 2009; Dos Santos, 2015; Algayer, 2015). The name “Indian of the Hole” comes from the fact that this man, apparently the sole survivor, maintains a series of small houses throughout this territory, most provisioned with a grave-like hole for him to suspend his hammock: he may have survived night-time massacres, and the hole may be a way of shielding himself from gunfire. Santos also recorded references to a rancher who poisoned a group of isolated Indians who used to visit his ranch in the 1980s (Dos Santos, 2015). A nearby Nambiquara group was also targeted by the ranchers in the 1980s. In late 1985, an almost uncontacted group in the Corumbiara valley, was attacked by local ranchers. At least ten Indians were killed and their cemeteries, gardens and houses destroyed.

A band of the Kawahiva, known as the Piripikura, numbered some 20 individuals in the 1980s. But when last contacted in 2007, only two elderly individuals were alive. The population of a related group (Kawahiwa do Rio Pardo), was estimated at 15 individuals in 2011. In 2011, Brazilian loggers burned alive an 8-year old girl from the uncontacted Awá-Guajá people.

Another example is that of an unidentified Tupian tribe from the vicinity of Maraba, Para. The last two survivors of this tribe, known to the FUNAI employees as Aure and Aura, were found in 1988 by the contact team near a Highway. The FUNAI personnel tried to identify their language, but they failed in that attempt as the language spoken by these two were unrelated to any other living language. One of the anthropologists concluded that they belonged to one historic tribe, which was earlier believed to became extinct in the 17th century. From interpreting their language with much difficulty, it was later found out by the ethnologists that the two were sole survivors of a massacre, which was perpetrated by another Indian tribe (Parakanã). They refused to reveal the real name of their tribe, as well as their own names. After living with the Awa-Guaja (an unrelated tribe), the last of the two Indians died in 2009.

Uncontacted peoples who were contacted recently

 * In 1995, 12 uncontacted Indians (2 male, 10 female) belonging to the Apurinã tribe were encountered by the contacted segment of the same tribe near Igarapé Tumiã. After contact, this small band was assimilated in to the contacted population.
 * Permanent contact with the Korubo do Igarapé Quebrado was established in 1996-98.
 * Permanent contact with the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau was established in 1981. By 1986, some 500 were contacted, but 1,000 to 1,200 remained uncontacted.
 * The Paiter people were contacted in 1969.
 * Permanent contact with the Zo'é was established in November 1987.
 * The Akuntsu do vale do Rio Omerê and the Kanoe do vale do Rio Omerê were contacted in 1995.
 * The Araweté were contacted in 1976-77.
 * The first Arara subgroup was contacted in 1981. The second one in 1983, and the third (Arara da Cachoeira Seca do Iriri) in 1987.
 * In 1988, 5 uncontacted Awá-Guajá were rescued from a tiny forest measuring 2 sq.km inside fazenda Cipó Cortado (700 km south of São Luís, Maranhão) by the Funai.
 * One of the Avá-Canoeiro groups were contacted in 1973 (Canoanã Indigenous Post, 13 individuals). The contact was very violent, and FUNAI used contacted Xavante and Javaé Indians to force the isolated Indians out of forest with the help of gunfire. An eight-year old Ava-Canoeiro girl was killed by the Xavante . This was followed by another in October 1983 (Mata do Café, 4 individuals). A few more remains uncontacted. According to the Javaé, two groups of uncontacted Avá-Canoeiro remain. The first one in Mata do Mamão (in the central-north region of Bananal Island), within TI Inãwébohona. The second one is located to the south of Bananal Island, in Parque Indígena do Araguaia.
 * The Eastern Parakanã were contacted on October 1971. The Akaria band of the Western Parakanã were contacted in 1976 (11 out of a total population of 40 died soon after), and were transferred by the Funai to the Pucuruí Post. The Namikwarawa band of the Western Parakanã were contacted in January 1983, and 25% of their population (44) perished during the contact. A large group of 106 Western Parakanã were contacted in 1983 December. The Ajowyhá band (population - 31) were contacted in March 1984.
 * On 1988 February, the FUNAI team briefly contacted an unknown tribe consisting of 8 Indians, near the T.I.Waimiri-Atroari, which they named as "Piridipi".
 * The Txapanawa, initiated contact with the outside world in 2014.
 * A group of 15 Chitonahua were forcibly contacted in 1996, near Rio Minuya in Peru.
 * The Nahua were contacted in 1985, and their population declined by 50% in the next 10 years.
 * The Wari’ people were contacted from 1956 onwards, with the last band establishing contact in 1969.
 * In 1998, a Cinta Larga lady and her two children were contacted for the first time in TI Aripuana. The lady claimed that she had contact with another small isolated group, known as the Baixinhos. This group lived in the mountains near the source of Rio Flor do Prado.

Asia
In the Asian continent, there is the confirmed presence of two uncontacted tribes. Both are located in the Andaman Islands, India.


 * Sentinelese: They number around 250, and live in the North Sentinel Island (7,200 hectares in area). So far no one has established peaceful contacts with them, although Indian Census officials once counted a few dozen from a distance.


 * Jarawa: The Jarawa number more than 400 people, and live on the western side of South Andaman and Middle Andaman Islands. Although there is no permanent contact established with them, some of the Jarawas are frequently engaged in violent conflicts with the loggers and poachers, who invade their territory.

Previously there were some more uncontacted tribes in Asia (especially in Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar and Vietnam), but most of them either went extinct or were assimilated in to the general population. An example is that of the Chứt people, who were forced to give up their isolated way of life, as a result of the Vietnam War. Another example is the Cholanaikkan tribe (found in the Silent Valley National Park, Kerala, India), which remained uncontacted until the 1970s.

Oceania

 * Australia: There are no uncontacted people in Australia. The nine-member band of the Pintupi tribe, which was contacted in 1984 was long believed to be the last uncontacted tribe there. However ethnologist studies later revealed that some of the members were contacted and resettled many decades ago, but they had decided to abandon their contacted way of life due to some differences with the Australian authorities.


 * New Guinea: In the 1960s, it was believed that dozens of uncontacted tribes existed in New Guinea. However, most of these tribes either went extinct, or became assimilated and detribalized. Scott Wallace claims that there are no uncontacted tribes in New Guinea, although some of the explorers still claim that there are at least a few of them.

North America
There are no uncontacted tribes in North America.


 * USA: The last case of an uncontacted native was that of Ishi, the last member of the Yahi tribe. Most of the Yahi were killed during the Three Knolls Massacre, and the remainder of the tribe merged with renegade Indians from the Wintun, Nomlaki and Pit River tribes. In 1908, Ishi's sister and mother died, following which he decided to establish contact with the settlers. In 1911, he was captured by the settlers and put in jail. The well known anthropologist Alfred L. Kroeber managed to free him, but he died of tuberculosis in 1916.


 * Mexico: Lacandon, a Mayan tribe in Southern Mexico avoided all contact with others until the 1940s. However they were later contacted by the missionaries from the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) and converted to Christianity.

South America
South America has the greatest concentration of uncontacted people in the world. And almost all of these tribes lives in the Amazon basin (with the notable exception of the Ayoreo).

Bolivia
Uncontacted people in Bolivia belong to tribes such as Araona, Ayoreo (Ayoréode), Baure, Cavinefio, Chacobo, Esse Ejja, Guarasug’we, Machineri, More, Mosetene, M’bya Yuki, Pacahuara, Tapiete, Toromona, T’simanes (Chimanes), Sirionó, Yaminahua, Yora, Yuracaré, and Yuqui (Yuki).

Confirmed presence of uncontacted people in Bolivia is limited to five regions. These are:


 * Ayoreo of the Kaa Iya del Gran Chaco National Park: These people consist of 4 bands (such as Atétadie´gosode and Tacheigosode) of the Ayoreo tribe, mostly sustaining on a hunter-gatherer lifestyle inside the gigantic Kaa-Iya del Gran Chaco National Park and Integrated Management Natural Area (covering 3.44 million hectares). The numbers appears to have been recently boosted, as many of the Ayoreo fleeing contact in Paraguay has taken up residence there.


 * Yuki and Yuracaré of the Tierra Comunitaria de Origen (TCO) Yuki and El Chore Forest Reserve: The Yuki comprises of 4 families. The uncontacted population of Yuracaré is not known. Both the Yuki and Yuracaré were hunted down in the forest and forcibly settled by the missionary sect New Tribes Mission (NTM) during the 1960s. The remaining uncontacted people represent the families who managed to escape from the missionary hunters.


 * Pacahuara: A small band composing of five families reported from Santa Rosa de Abuná municipality in Pando. Christian Evangelists from the Chacobo-Pacahuara Captaincy were attempting contact as of 2013. Also reported from Arroyo Cayuvín between the Río Pacahuara and the Río Negro (Municipality of Nuevo Manoa).


 * Isolated tribes from the vicinity of the Madidi National Park: Comprises of the Toromona, Ese Eja, and Nahua tribes. The region is quite remote, and this seems to keep out the loggers and missionaries. The Toromona are found along the Rio Colorado and Rio Enhajehua (Municipality of Ixiamas). The Yora (Ese Eja) are nomads who criss cross the Bolivia-Peru border, and are found along the Río Heath region (Municipality of Ixiamas).


 * Araona: Uncontacted bands live in the Araona Native Community Land. Reported from Río Manurimi and Alto Manupare (Municipality of Ixiamas). The contacted bands of Araona number some 100 persons in total, and live under the supervision of the fundamentalist Christian organization New Tribes Mission (NTM). Both the NTM and the SIL are pursuing forced contact with the remaining uncontacted Araona, but these attempts have ended in failure.

In addition to the confirmed uncontacted tribes, the presence of the following bands of uncontacted people needs to be confirmed:


 * Mosetene: Pilón Lajas Indigenous Territory and Biosphere Reserve, especially in the Pariquia and Suapi rivers, on the Río Quiquibey. Municipality of Palos Blancos.


 * Tsimanes: Pilón Lajas Indigenous Territory and Biosphere Reserve, especially in the Río San Luis (tributary of Río Quiquibey). Dispersed families near the Mosetene community of San Luis. Municipality of Palos Blancos. People in isolation on the Río Pachena in the municipality of San Borja.


 * Chacobo: TCO Chacobo-Pacahuara, municipality of Riberalta.

Peru
The total population of uncontacted Indians, living in Peru is estimated at around 12,000 to 15,000 individuals. These people are found in 15 different regions, belonging to dozens of tribes (More than 29 tribes according to some sources).

Some of the tribes living in a state of isolation in Peru includes Abijirias (Loreto Province), Amahuaca (Madre de Dios), Asháninka (Junín & Cusco), Cacataibo (Loreto,Ucayali & Huanuco), Caquinte (Cusco, Junín & San Martín), Chitonahua (Ucayali & Madre de Dios), Curanjeño (Madre de Dios & Ucayali), Iñapari (Madre de Dios), Iquitos-Cahuarano (Loreto), Isconahua (Ucayali & Loreto), Kapanawa (Loreto), Kirineri (Cusco & Ucayali), Kugapakori (Cusco & Ucayali), Maraktoa/Toyoeri (Madre de Dios), Mashco-Piro (Madre de Dios, Ucayali & Cusco), Mastanahua (Ucayali & Madre de Dios), Matis/ Korubo/Matsés (Loreto), Matsés (Loreto & Ucayali), Matsiguenka (Cusco & Ucayali), Murunahua (Ucayali), Nahua (Cusco & Ucayali), Nanti (Cusco & Madre de Dios), Pananujuri (Loreto), Sharanahua (Ucayali & Madre de Dios), Tagaeri (Loreto), Taromenane (Loreto), Taushiro (Loreto), Yaminahua (Madre de Dios & Ucayali) and Yine/Yora (Madre de Dios).

Brazil
According to FUNAI, uncontacted people are found in a total of 104 locations, of which only 26 is confirmed.

On October 1983, the FUNAI estimated that around 200 groups of uncontacted Indians resided within the international borders of Brazil. However, many of these groups were exterminated in the 1980s. In 1988, a comprehensive map showing the location of various uncontacted tribes in Brazil was created by Wellington Figueiredo of FUNAI. Initially, it contained a total of 115 references. However, after review, this was cut down to 88.

In 2013, the FUNAI published a list of known locations of 104 uncontacted bands of indigenous people. Another list gives the names of 17 tribes, which are classified as "Recently contacted".

The groups which are classified as recently contacted are: Korubo do Igarapé Quebrado, Zo’é, Akuntsu do vale do Rio Omerê, Piripkura, Kanoe do vale do Rio Omerê, Zuruahá, Yanomami, Ye'kuana, Arara do Para, Araweté, Parakanã, Awá-Guajá, Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau, Avá-Canoeiro, Juma, Hüpdah-Yuhupde, and Waimiri-Atroari.

Of the 104 references for uncontacted bands, 26 are confirmed references, and the remaining 78 are "under study". Of this, 9 references come under the Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Awá-Guajá. 6 are reported by the Frente de Proteção Cuminapanema, 5 by Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Guaporé, 9 by Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Madeira, 13 by Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Madeirinha-Juruena, 13 by Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Médio Xingu, 6 by Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau, 20 by Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Vale do Javari, 5 by Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Waimiri-Atroari, 13 by Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Yanomami, and 6 by Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Envira.

The references where the uncontacted bands are found (References newly identified in 2013 given in Purple):
 * Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Awá-Guajá: 1. Igarapé Presídio/ Juriti 2. TI Araribóia 3. Serra do Cipó 4. Igarapé Mão de Onça 5. Igarapé Mutum 6. Rio Arraias 7. Rio Gurupi 8. Cana Brava 9. Igarapé Jararaca (all except #3 are Awá-Guajá. #3 is unknown).
 * Frente de Proteção Cuminapanema: 10. Alto Rio Mapuera 11. Trombetas/ Mapuera 12. Rio Mapari 13. Alto Amapari 14. Alto Rio Ipitinga 15. Jari (all uknown, but #14 is possibly Waiana or Apalai)
 * Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Guaporé: 16. Massaco 17. Índio do buraco / Tanaru 18. Rio Tenente Marques 19. Emawenê-Nawé / Rio Iquê 20. Corumbiara (#16 is Papamiän, related to Sirionó, #18 may be Nambikwara).
 * Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Madeira: 21. Rio Mucuim 22. Manicorezinho 23. Igarapé Preto 24. Rio Maici / Piranhã 25. Cachoeira do Remo 26. Bom Futuro 27. Rio Coti 28. Kaidjuwa 29. Jacareúba-Katawixi (all unknown, but #29 possibly related to Katawaixi). #27 is also known as Isolados do igarapé Karipuninha e serra Três Irmãos. They are threatened by the new dams in Madeira river. #26 was recently involved in violent conflict with loggers.
 * Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Madeirinha-Juruena: 30. Igarapé Boca da Mata 31. Médio Rio Branco 32. Arara do Rio Branco 33. Norte da TO Zoró 34. Serra do Cachimbo 35. Rio dos Peixes 36. Norte fa Munduruku 37. Rio Parauari 38. Alto Rio Canumã 39. Igarapé Pacutinga 40. Pontal 41. Igarapé Bica da Mata 42. Kawahiva do Rio Pardo (#35 probably Kayabi, and #42 confirmed as Kawahiva people).
 * Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Médio Xingu: 43. Riozinho do Anfrizo 44. Iriri Novo Cabeceira do Ipiaçava 46. Cabeceira do Ipiaçava e Bacajaí 47. Cabeceira Piranhaquara 48. Igarapé Mossoró 49. Interfluvio Carajari 50. Rio Fresco 51. Igarapé Itata (#44 and #50 probably Kayapo).
 * Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Purus: 52. Hi-Merimã 53. Igarapé Maburruã 54. Rio Cuniuá 55. Igarapé do Sol
 * Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau: 56. Igarapé Oriente 57. Bananeira 58. Tiradentes 59. Baixo Cautário 60. Cautário 61. Serra da Onça / Jurureí (#57 and #61 possibly Kawahiva people, and #58 seems to be Amondaua).
 * Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Vale do JavariBold text: 62. Rio Pedra 63. Igarapé São Salvador 64. Igarapé Pedro Lopes 65. Curuça Ipixuna 66. Batã Ipixuna 67. Quixito 68. Igarapé Cravo 69. Igarapé Amburus 70. Igarapé Flecheira 71. Igarapé Nauá 72. Rio Itaquaí 73. Igarapé Alerta 74. Igarapé Inferno 75. Rio Bóia 76. Igarapé Lambança 77. Rio Ituí 78. Rio Quixito 79. Ituí / Itaquaí 80. Rio Esquerdo 81. Igarapé São José (#73 probably Kulina, #77 and #79 is Korubo).
 * Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Waimiri-Atroari: 82. Alto Rio Jatapu 83. Médio Macucuaú 84. Rio Pitinga 85. Cabeceira do Camanaú 86. Alto Rio Alalaú (#86 is Pirititi).
 * Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Yanomami: 87. Igarapé Waranaçu 88. Rio Uauapes 89. Rio Curicuriari 90. Igarapé do Natal 91. Igarapé Bafuanã 92. Surucucu/Kataroa 93. Parawau 94. Rio Padauiri 95. Awaris 96. Surucucu/Wathou 97. Igarapé Jacitara 98. Baixo Rio Cauaburi 99. Serra da Estrutura / Moxihatëtëma (#87, #88, and #89 are Maku, #90, #91, and #98 are uknown, and the rest are Yanomami. #92 is Yanomami-Puduthëri, #93 is Yanomami-Xihouthëri, #94 is Yanomami-Hoaxipokoproapethëri, and #99 is Yanomami-Moxihatëtëma).
 * Frente de Proteção Etnoambiental Envira: 100. Xinane e Igarapé do Douro 101. Igarapé Xinane e Imbula 102. Rio Jaminawá 103. Cabeceira do Rio Iaco e Rio Chandiles 104. Igarapé Tapada 105. Mascko-Piro (#100 is Jaminawá, #103 is Masco, and #105 is Mascho Piro). #104 were reported by contacted Indians in TI Nawa to have visited their villages. #103 is described as a large group, averse to contact. #105 is a nomadic group spread over both Brazil and Peru. In addition to these references, a few have been put forward by non-FUNAI sources. These include Isolados do Cabeceiras dos Rios Muru e Boiaçu, Isolados do Cabeceira do Rio Acre, and Isolados do Igarapé Taboca do Alto Tarauacá. There are multiple groups of uncontacted Indians in Terra Indígena Riozinho do Alto Envira, with some being recent arrivals from Peru.

Colombia
There are three locations in the Colombian Amazonia, where the presence of isolated Indians are confirmed.These locations are:


 * Reserva Nacional Natural Nukak: The Nukak were first contacted in 1988, when they were fleeing attacks from the Christian missionary organisation New Tribes Mission and drug cartels. At that point of time they numbered more than 1,300 in total. A majority of the population died of violence and epidemics in the following years, and the population numbers around 400 now. It is believed that a few dozen Nukak still live isolated in the remote forest regions of RNN Nukak right now, while others live on various villages inside the reserve with permanent contact with outsiders.


 * Parque Nacional Natural Río Puré: Somewhere around 300 to 500 Carabayo (also known as Caraballos, Yuri, Arojes and Yacumo) live inside this National Park. The presence of two other ethnic groups have been confirmed - the Passé and Jumana. Anthropologist Roberto Franco claims that the total uncontacted population can be up to 2,000, and favors the possibility of more tribes in the region.


 * Parque Nacional Natural Sierra de Chiribiquete: Presence of multiple uncontacted tribes is confirmed. However anthropologists differ in the identification of the tribes. According to most of them, there are three tribes - Karijona, Murui and Urumi. There can be more tribes present in the area, but as of now it is impossible to confirm their presence. The Karijona are found between Rio Ajaju and Rio Macaya, while the Murui are found between Rio Luisa and Rio Yarí. In addition to this, there are indications about the presence of Urumi Indians near Rio Mirití, Rio Yavilla and Rio Metá. A second Murui group is found near the Rio Cuemaní and Rio Sainí.

Paraguay
There remain perhaps as many as 300 Totobiegosode who have not been contacted; they belong to the Ayoreo ethnicity, which numbers around 2,000. In the 1990s the main group attempting to contact them was New Tribes Mission. In 1979 and 1986, the New Tribes Mission was accused of assisting in the forcible contact of nomadic Ayoreo Indians, whose unsuccessful attempts to remain in the forest led to several native deaths. Others died soon after being brought out of the forest. The incident forced some Ayoreo to flee to Bolivia. Currently the main threat to these peoples are ranchers, who illegally encroach on their lands. In 2004 a group of 17 Ayoreo-Totobiegosode previously uncontacted made contact with the outside world and decided to settle down (five men, seven women and five children, according to Survival International. It was not known whether there were any more isolated Ayoreo left in the jungle. In the first week of September 2007, another uncontacted band of Ayoreo-Totobiegosode were spotted by loggers in the Western Chaco. Ayoreo are believed to be the last uncontacted Indians south of the Amazon basin. In 2008, a Paraguayan ruling blocked a Brazilian company from clearing Totobiegosode to make room for cattle ranches,

According to some reports, there are members of the Mby’á and Aché tribes living in isolation. These groups seems to have been made up of fugitives, who had contact with the national society during the 1970s to the 1990s. However, it seems that they have returned to a state of voluntary isolation. There are three groups who seems to be in this state:


 * Manjui: Between Santa Rosa and Pilcomayo basins, North-west Chaco


 * Mbyá: In Serra del Ybyturuzú and Serra de San Rafael


 * Aché-Guayaki: In Sierra de Mbaracajú

Venezuela
There are three uncontacted tribes living in Venezuela. They are Hoti, Yanomami and Piaroa. The vast majority of the members of these tribes are already contacted and only a few live in isolation. Another isolated group, the Sape of Rio Karun became extinct during the 1990s.


 * Hoti: Located near Rio Kaima and the Sierra de Maigualida region. Most of the contacted Hoti live in the missionary outposts of San Jose de Kayama and Cano Iguana. About 40% of the Hoti are nomadic, while the remaining 60% are stationed in various missionary outposts. The Venezuelan government expelled the Christian missionary group New Tribes Mission from the Hoti lands in 2006, in order to prevent the forcible contact.


 * Yanomami: There are a total of 25,000 Yanomami, who live in approx.250 villages. There are five bands of Yanomami which live in isolation (a few hundred individuals). These include Alto Rio Siapa (SE Amazonas), between Sierra Parima and the Cerro Delgado Chalbaud (Amazonas), between Alto Rio Ocamo and the Rio Mutucini (Amazonas), Alto Rio Caura (Bolivar), and Alto Rio Paragua (Bolivar).


 * Piaroa: Small isolated bands of Piaroa are located near Alto Rio Cuao and Rio Parhuaza. These bands are locally known as comunidades de tierra adentro. The regions where they live are extremely difficult to access.

Ecuador
The uncontacted bands or nuclear families belonging to the Taromenane and Tagaeiri tribes were located in and around the tributaries of the Rumiyaku, Tiputini, and Curaray rivers (esp. along the Tivacuno, Yasuni Nashiño, Cononaco, Cononaco Chico, Tiwino, and Cuchiyaku rivulets). In the 1990s when a member of Tagaeri was contacted by a lone Huaorani hunter, he told him that Tagaeri numbers only a handful of members and are in danger of being wiped out by their hostile neighbours – the Taromenane. Since then there have been no more peaceful contacts. The Tagaeri hunter also mentioned another group, the Oñamenane who numbered five or six individuals, and one other tribe – the Huiñatare. In 2003 about 30 Taromenane were massacred by the Huaorani in retaliation for the killing of a Huaorani hunter. In the same year 14 Tagaeri were killed by loggers. In April 2006 a logger was speared to death by the Taromenane (in 2005 another one was also killed by the same tribe, whose body was later found embedded with 30 spears and his face unrecognizable). In the same month a further 30 Taromenane and 10 loggers were killed in conflicts according to leader Iki Ima Omene (of Huaorani). In Jan 2007 the president of Ecuador declared the Southern part of Yasuni a forbidden zone (7,580 square kilometers) in order to protect the uncontacted people. At the same time CONAIE reported that there are a total of 150–300 Taromenane (divided into two sub-tribes) and 20–30 Tagaeri surviving uncontacted there. The Oñamenane and Huiñatare are extinct.

The major bands identified in 2013 were:


 * Cuchiyaku band: Located in the South-western side of the forbidden zone, along the Rio Curaray. This particular band has been almost exterminated by frequent conflict with the Babeiri group of the Christianized Huaorani. Indigenous organizations have accused the oil companies of bribing the Baeiri, in order to exterminate the uncontacted Indians. In a major massacre in 2003, more than 15 uncontacted Indians were massacred with shotguns and hunting rifles.
 * Tivacuno band of Yasuní: The band is located entirely inside the forbidden zone, which was set up for their protection. The ethnic identity is believed to be Tagaeiri, led by an elder known as Nankamo. This group speaks the Huaorani language. Clashes between the uncontacted Indians and the Christianized ones haven't been reported for the past many years.
 * Chico Cononaco band: Located along the Tiwino Road. This group have been heavily decimated due to armed conflicts. It is believed that this band is composed of Taromenane men and Tagaeiri women.

The conflicts occurring in this region is not a new phenomena. The conflict started as early as the 1970s, when oil companies recruited Kichwa Indians for their drilling and exploration work. To maintain the law and order, the Ecuadorian government asked the SIL missionaries to resettle the Huaorani to regions away from the oil blocks. In return, the missionaries were supported by the oil companies, who provided them with helicopters and other articles. Most of the Huaorani relocated (90% by 1975), but the remaining free bands soon took over the vacant lands. A part of the territory which was formerly occupied by the extinct Sápara tribe was also conquered.

In March 24, 2013 more than 20 uncontacted Taromenane Indians were killed by contacted/settled Indians who were armed with shotguns and carbines, in retaliation for a previous murder. Human rights/religious activists Miguel Ángel Cabodevilla and Milagros Aguirre authored a book called A Tragedy Hidden Away detailing the massacre, but the Ecuadorian Supreme Court banned its distribution, reversing the ban after two days due to public outcry.. The book was later released on the internet.

Guyana, Suriname and Guyane Française
In Guyana, there were reports of two uncontacted tribes in the 1980s. The first one was a Wapishana band numbering around 100, found in Serra Acarai, between the sources of the Essequibo River and the Tacutu River. The second one was an unknown tribe which numbers close to 100, and found between the Upper Courantyne and the New River. Nothing has been heard about these tribes in the past few decades, and they seems to have gone extinct in the recent past.

In Suriname, earlier there were reports about an uncontacted segment of the Akulio numbering around 50, found between the sources of the Itani and the Jari. In the Guyane Française, reports from the 1980s indicated the presence of a Wayãpi sub-group numbering around 100, located between the Eureupoucine and the Upper Camopi. Latest reports indicate that these two groups have either become extinct, or fled across the border to Brazil.