ABSTRACT
Today the Suyá Indians live in a single village of about two hundred inhabitants on the banks of the Suiá-Miçu River, an affluent of the Xingu River at about 11 degrees south latitude (the Xingu flows north into the Amazon River). Horticulture, hunting, fishing, and gathering supply their basic needs, and trade or conflict with frontier settlements and ranches supplies them with salt, ammunition, trade goods, and some medical supplies and services. They speak a language belonging the northern branch of the Gê language family. Missionaries are not allowed to practice in the Xingu reserve, and the Suyá have little experience with Christian ideas and practices. Since shamanism is not highly elaborated, Western medical practices employed by Brazilian officials have not undermined the authority of traditional culture. The Suyá continue to perform many of their traditional ceremonies. They made peace with Brazilians in 1959.
