The Nukuk Maktu

This book considers this tribe of the Colombian Amazon. Traditional life ways are described alongside contemporary threats to those life ways The Nukak live between the Guaviare and Inírida rivers in southeast Colombia. They are one of six groups known as the 'Maku' peoples, all nomadic hunter-gatherers living in the headwaters of the northwest Amazon basin. Traditionally, the Nukak live in small groups, between nine and thirty people, in the very deep forest away from the rivers. They are One of Colombia's last nomadic peoples, the few hundred remaining people of the Nukak branch of the Maku people, spend several months of each year working for another indigenous group, Tukano. Tukano are among the most politically active of lowland groups, although not all are members of the Regional Council of Vaupés Indians (CRIVA), a federation founded in 1973 with members from some 35 different ethnic groups. Many Tukano are hostile to CRIVA, considering it an organization created by whites, and one which has had little influence. The Tukano language was formerly known as Betoya, today Middle Tukano is called Kubeo.