Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Kamëntsá

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The Kamëntsá are an indigenous people of Colombia. They primarily live in the Sibundoy Valley of the Putumayo Department in the south of Colombia.

Contents

Name

The Kamëntsá also are known as the Camsá, Camëntsëá, Coche, Kamemtxa, Kamsa, Kamse, Sibundoy, and Sibundoy-Gaché people.

Language

The Camsá language is a language isolate, although linguists have tried to connect it to the Chibchan language family in the past. The language is written in the Latin script.

Culture

They are known for their carved wooden masks that are worn during ceremonies and festivals. They farm maize, beans, potatoes, and peas, and use the hallucinogen ayahuasca, or yagé, in rituals.

Notable Kamëntsá people

  • Hugo Jamioy Juagibioy, poet and indigenous rights activist
  • References

    Kamëntsá Wikipedia