The Urgent Situation of the Cuiva Indians of Colombia

This publication documents how, after four centuries of struggle against the European invasion of their territory, the Cuiva are now threatened not only with cultural extinction, but also with physical ectermination at the hands of Colombian cattle herders. Between July 1968 and July 1970 the author of this publication spent 21 month living with three distinct groups of nomadic haters and gatherers in the eastern plains of Colombia. These three groups, which totalled about 540 individuals, occupied adjacent territories and speak a common language closely related to that of the Guahíbo.