The Flecheiros are one of the

uncontacted peoples Uncontacted peoples are groups of indigenous peoples living without sustained contact with neighbouring communities and the world community. Groups who decide to remain uncontacted are referred to as indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation. ...

in the Javari region of the Amazon. Their ambiguous name simply means "arrow shooters".

Language

Ethnographically, the people are similar to the Kanamarí. However, a meeting between a Kanamarí and the Flecheiros was observed, showing that the two have different languages. Their language is thus unknown and therefore unattested.

History

In September 2017, the Brazilian government investigated a reported massacre in August of about 10 members of the tribe who were gathering eggs along a river when they were killed by gold miners. The miners had bragged about "cutting up the bodies and throwing them in the river."

In popular culture

The Flecheiros are the subject of a book called ''The Unconquered: In Search of the Amazon's Last Uncontacted Tribes'', by Scott Wallace. The 2011

National Geographic ''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...

edition details the 76-day expedition in 2002, led by famed indigenous activist

Sydney Possuelo Sydney Ferreira Possuelo (born 19 April 1940, in Santos Dumont), is a Brazilian explorer, social activist and ethnographer who is considered the leading authority on Brazil's remaining isolated Indigenous Peoples. Life and career Sydney Possuel ...

, who attempted to find the status of the Flecheiros in the

Vale do Javari Indigenous Land Vale do Javari (English language: Javari Valley) is one of the largest indigenous territories in Brazil, encompassing 85,444.82 km 2 (32,990 mi 2) – an area larger than Austria. It is named after the Javari River, the most important ...

References

Indigenous peoples of the Amazon Uncontacted peoples Unattested languages of South America {{Brazil-ethno-group-stub