The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest tropical rainforest. It is an ancient forest that has persisted for millions of years and is full of diverse peoples and tribes. The Amazon is also home to the largest collection of uncontacted tribes - an estimated 77-84 of these tribes live in Brazil and another 15 in the Peruvian Amazon. It is generally forbidden to attempt to contact uncontacted tribes who enjoy protection in most countries they live in.
According to Aqua Expeditions, there are around 400 tribes who still live in the rainforest. Many of them live in villages by the rivers or as nomads deep in the jungle. These peoples are very diverse and one can learn about them deep in the Amazon Rainforest at the Museu do Homem do Norte (Northern Man Museum).
The Purpose Of The Museu do Homem do Norte
"The Museum intends to give a vision of the regional cultural amplitude, showing the day-to-day work techniques of the Amazonian populations, means of transport, housing, food, festivals, handicrafts, religiosity, myths and rites. , in addition to an important archaeological collection."
The Museu do Homem do Norte is located in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest in the large Brazilian city of Manaus. In Manaus, at the Centro Cultural dos Povos da Amazônia (Cultural Center of the Peoples of the Amazon) one can gain an insight into the cultures, myths, rites, daily lives, tools, clothes, and more of the various Amazonian peoples.
The museum is focused on the peculiarities of life of the various peoples of the northern region of Brazil. One can see over 2,000 items on display and features Cine Silvino Santos, in honor of the photographer and pioneer of cinema in the Amazon.
- Exhibits: Over 2,000 Items
- Focus: Northern Amazon
The museum was conceived by the sociologist and anthropologist, Gilberto Freyre.
What To Expect At The Museum
At the museum is a documentary explaining the everyday life and various ceremonial rites of Amazonian tribes. Fortunately, the documentary is shown in both English and Portuguese.
- Documentary: Shown In English and Portuguese
According to Altas Obscura, exhibits include representations of communal housing in forest villages, traditional paintings, ritual clothing, sculptures, and methods for processing rubber and cassava.
One will see representations of belief systems and cultures that may appear strange to Westerners - like painted tunics made of tree bark worn by boys to acknowledge the onset of menstruation in their female peers.
The age of the internet and modernity is making cultures and world views around the world increasingly similar. A millennial can be an Instagramming millennial in just about any country today. It is easy to forget how radically different worldviews and cultures were the norm in the not-so-distant past.
At the museum, visitors will also see the juxtaposition of modern items like electric cable cars with traditional items of the Amazon - like dugout canoes.
Visiting The Museu do Homem do Norte (Northern Man Museum)
The museum is awkwardly located inside a busy and large roundabout in the center of the city. Entrance to the museum is free and there are guides who are also free (although a fluent English-speaking guide may not be guaranteed).
- Opening hours: From Tuesday to Saturday, from 9 am to 3 pm
- Admission: Free admission
- Address: Avenida Silves, 2222 – Industrial District, Manaus
It is worth visiting the Museu do Homem do Norte if one has a chance to visit. It is enlightening to get a glimpse of a worldview so different from that of the modern world. The museum is highly rated enjoying 4.6/5.0 stars out of over one hundred reviews on Google.
- Rating: 4.6/5.0 Stars
If one would like to explore the environment that the Amazon peoples live in, then the best way is with an Amazon River cruise. One can choose to take a cruise in a number of Amazon countries including Brazil and Peru. The Amazon Rainforest is one of the world's greatest natural wonders and one worth visiting if given the chance. It is still home to some very unique ways of life.