The Piratapuyo of Brazil

The Piratapuyo of Brazil, numbering approximately 1,400 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an Indigenous people of the Eastern Tucanoan language family in Brazil, primarily living along the middle Papurí River and lower Uaupés (Vaupés) River, in Amazonas state. Some communities have migrated downstream and settled near São Gabriel da Cachoeira and can also be known as Waikino, Waikana, Uaiana, Waikhara, Uaicana, Waikino, Piratapuya, Pira-Tapuya, Pira-Tapuia, Waina, Uainana, Uaikena, Waíkana. They are an Indigenous people, in the South American Indigenous people cluster of the Latin-Caribbean Americans affinity bloc. Their primary religion is Ethnoreligion - Animism. They primarily speak Piratapuyo.

Piratapuyo in Brazil photo
Photo by Google. (2025). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Piratapuyo (Waíkana)

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: American Peoples
Country: Brazil
People Cluster: South American Indigenous
Primary Language(s): Piratapuyo (pir)
Primary Religion(s): Ethnoreligion - Animism
Population: 1,400
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Unengaged and Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Active CP Activity
People Group ID: PG017072

Pray for the Piratapuyo of Brazil

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Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Ethnoreligion - Animism
Religious Affiliation: Ethnoreligion

%
Ethnoreligion - Animism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Piratapuyo
Language Family: Tucanoan

%
Piratapuyo Speakers

Media Resources in Piratapuyo:

Films:

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Bible Resources in Piratapuyo:

Or check out the Piratapuyo bible resources at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

Next steps for the Piratapuyo

The Piratapuyo are Unengaged and Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations among which there are no known efforts focused on establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Begin signifcant prayer and fasting for this group
Send cross-cultural teams to discover and research this people group
Begin gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group

Next steps for the Piratapuyo

The Piratapuyo are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Continue prayer and fasting for this group
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Next steps for the Piratapuyo

The Piratapuyo are No Longer Unreached, which means there are more than 2% evangelical Christian populations and there are churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. There is still more to be done among them.

Empower local believers to begin praying for their own people
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
Encourage local leaders to being leading church planting strategy and looking for Unreached and Unengaged groups nearby

Pray specifically for the Piratapuyo of Brazil

Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him.
readIsaiah 45:24

Pray that those who are weary and burdened by their own righteousness will find rest in the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ alone.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
readMatthew 13: 45-46

Pray that they will recognize the treasure of knowing Christ Jesus and be willing to give up everything else to gain Him.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
readJohn 14:3

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will have hope in trials because they know that Jesus will one day take them to be with Him forever.

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
readIsaiah 43:19

Praise the God who is able to make a way forward, even when it seems impossible. Ask Him to do a new thing among this people group specifically and among the nations, raising up believers to go and share the gospel with individuals and places where it has not flourished before.

Pira-Tapuia (ROP3 - 108050) reported in the following countries:

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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