The Chané are an ancient, peaceful group of indigenous people who predate the Incas. They speak Arawakan, which was by far the largest language group at the time of their first contact with Europeans. Today the Chané language itself is largely extinct, since they were forced to speak Guarani at one point in their history when this group enslaved them. Only the Tuyunti community today maintains its native language and culture. The Chané live in the plains and foothills of the Andes. In Argentina, they live in the region known as Gran Chaco in five communities near Tartagal in Salta Province.
The weather is warm year-round, and Chaco grass and palms are abundant. In the summer, the area is semi-arid, but in winter it floods, forming lagoons.
The Chané are farmers who also hunt and fish in harmony with nature, using bows and arrows, traps and nets. Using natural fertilizer and traditional irrigation to conserve water during the summer, they grow corn, cassava, sweet potato, peanuts, pumpkin and beans. These crops form the mainstay of their diet. They also graze llamas.
They are skilled in pottery, wood and stone carving and painting.
Chané houses are built with walls of vertical wooden boards and thatched roofs, Since ancient times, they have lived in large villages surrounded by crops.
Traditional dress for women, worn only during festivals, is a 'tipoy'—a tunic of one color with a single seam on one side, adorned by long earrings and necklaces of variously-colored seeds. Traditional dress for men is a simple garment that covers the waist and between the legs, replacing the older loin cloth. For everyday wear both men and women wear modern Creole clothing.
Although they also acknowledge one true God, most of their religious practice revolves around appeasing and requesting permission and guidance from spirit beings called 'owners' of various aspects of nature—the mountains, water, etc. People seek the permission of the 'owners' for everything from hunting, to making a fire, to gathering wild vines and fruits. The offering may consist of items like alcohol, cigarettes, or coca.
They also believe in the existence of evil spirits called Aña Tumpa, believed to have destructive power that brings illness and death. Each community has a shaman who is believed to have spiritual favor and power to protect the community from evil spirits and to cure diseases. Some of the younger generation are also influenced by Catholic and evangelical beliefs.
The Chané bury their dead along with their possessions which they believe will be needed in the afterlife, which is on another plane of the universe. The most important ceremony is the Arete, now celebrated in February along with Creole Carnival activities. It is a ritual of gratitude to nature for a successful corn harvest. It is associated with the ritual Dance of the Jaguar or Tiger with the Bull. The jaguar or tiger represents the indigenous people, and the bull the Europeans. During the dance, the tiger kills the bull. The dancers wear homemade wooden painted masks depicting different spirits, made with the participation of the entire family. The dancers believe themselves to become possessed by spirits during the dance, but the masks protect them so that the spirits cannot steal their souls. Then the masks are burned or thrown into water to purify them, and to destroy evil.
Although the Chane are tied tightly to ethno-religion, evangelical Christianity has gained a small influence with the younger generation. They need to have all their faith centered in Christ.
Pray that younger Chané believers will experience spiritual renewal and be able to win older family members to Christ.
Pray the Chané, including their shamans, will become hungry to know the true Creator God.
Pray that soon, Chane Christians will become Christ's ambassadors to the lost in South America.
Scripture Prayers for the Chane in Argentina.
References
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
