KARAJÁ People

The Karajá (who call themselves Iny) are an indigenous people of Central Brazil, historically inhabiting the Araguaia River basin, specifically on Bananal Island, the world's largest fluvial island.

Culture and Identity

River People: Their life and cosmology revolve around the Araguaia River. They are expert fishers and navigators.
Ritxòkò Dolls: They are world-renowned for their ceramic figurines called ritxòkò, crafted by women. These dolls represent daily scenes, local fauna, and myths, and have been declared part of Brazil's Cultural Heritage.
Gendered Language: A unique feature of their language (Inyrybe) is that there are distinct forms of speech depending on the gender of the speaker.
Painting and Tattoos: Traditionally, they tattoo two black circles on their cheeks as a mark of tribal identity.
Lifestyle
Seasonal Housing: Historically, they built temporary villages on river beaches during the dry season for fishing and turtle harvesting, moving to higher ground during the rainy season to grow maize and cassava.
Initiation Rites: The Hetohoky is the most important ritual for young boys, where they learn men's secrets, hunting, and fishing, and undergo a period of seclusion in the "Big House."

Extended info about Karajá people