Dâw people

The Dow are an indigenous people of the Amazon basin in the north- west of Brazil, belonging to the ethnic group of Maku. They live on the right side of the Rio Negro in an area that is commonly known as the Alto Rio Negro. In this area, indigenous peoples live together from three major language families: the Maku, including the Dow belong arawakische and Tucano tribes.

The word Dow is the proper name, meaning people. In literature and in their habitat, they are often referred to as the Kama, but has a disparaging meaning.

In the 1980s, the Dow were nearing extinction because of an imbalance in the number of men and women. There were only a few women and many of them were old and unable to bear children. In 1984 there were only 56 Dow. Since then the situation has improved significantly and the Dow are no longer threatened despite its small population of extinction. In addition to their own language, which is spoken by all Dow as their mother tongue, can also get many Nheengatu and speak Portuguese.

Today the Dow have permanent contact with non-indigenous people, mostly in the nearby city of São Gabriel da Cachoeira. They have become victims of alcoholism and suffer as a result of the decline in forest areas in the vicinity of São Gabriel under constant malnutrition. They are easy victims of Amazonian dealer in boats, etc. which pay the domestic production of lianas, latex, hemp fibers with goods. The dealers keep them in perpetual debt and give them liquor, so as to guarantee their domination and exploitation.