The Fulni-ô tribe

There are now some 4,500 Fulni-ô indians left.

In October 1999, there were 350 youth in primary school, and 326 in secondary school. There were 24 teachers in three schools.

The Ethnologue, 13th Edition, says:

FULNIÔ (FURNIÔ, FORNIÓ, CARNIJÓ, IATÊ, YATÊ) [FUN] 2,788 (1995 SIL). Pernambuco. Macro-Ge, Fulnio. Bilingual in Portuguese. Fulniô language is mainly used in 3-month annual religious retreat. Subsistence agriculturalists: beans, cotton. Survey needed.

Found on the net:

When Doug Meland and his wife moved into a village of Brazil’s Fulnio Indians, he was referred to as "the white man," an uncomplimentary term. Other white men had exploited the villagers, burned their homes, and robbed their lands. But after the missionaries learned the language and began to help people with medicine and in other ways, they began to call Doug, "the good white man." And when the Melands began adopting the customs of the people, the Fulino spoke of Doug as "the white Indian."

Then one day, as Doug ws washing the dirty, blood-caked foot of an injured boy, he heard a bystander say, "Who ever heard of a white man washing an Indian’s foot? Certainly this man is from God." From that day, whenever Doug entered an Indian home, it would be announced, "Here comes the man God sent us." It was in service that he found greatness.

Excerpt from THE CULTURE OF THE INDIAN PEOPLE (in Brazil)

The Fulnio indians, from the state of Pernambuco, also face a similar situation [their physical space has been destroyed and their local flora reduced]. Experts in the art of weaving, the Fulniô have a very hard time finding raw materials for the production of baskets, mats and other pieces. Thus, the Fulniô also work with wood, making bowls, combs and other objects with purely commercial intent. The pressure from "civilization", however, has not changed their religious behavior nor influenced the social organization of the group. The Fulniô are concerned about preserving their language, continuing with their rituals and teaching the youngsters their traditions.

More information:

• Índios Fulni-ô (Portuguese)