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Is She the Oldest Person in the Amazon?




 

After more than 100 years living in the rainforest, Varî Vãti Marubo, an elderly woman from the Marubo tribe, still walks barefoot, using a stick for support.

 

When her tribe planned a meeting in a village 13 miles away, everyone knew it would be tough for her to get there. But Varî Vãti found a way. Her son, Tama Txano Marubo, carried her on his back through the streams and dense forest. She joked and laughed, asking for a truck as her son carefully made the journey.

 

Varî Vãti is one of the oldest members of the Marubo tribe, which has around 2,000 people. Official records suggest she might be 107, but some tribe members believe she could be over 120. She is one of the oldest people still living in the Amazon rainforest. Her life represents a century of change for the Amazon's Indigenous people, who have faced new challenges as outsiders have entered their land.

 

Despite these changes, Varî Vãti continues to live much like her ancestors did. She has spent her entire life in one of the most isolated parts of the planet, sleeping in a hammock inside a communal hut. She has made jewelry and clothes from materials found in the forest and cooked traditional dishes over a fire.

 

As a child, Varî Vãti remembers her people hiding when they saw white people. Now, many young Marubo are leaving the forest to live in cities, speak Portuguese, and pursue modern careers. While Varî Vãti understands the search for new knowledge, she worries that the culture of her tribe could disappear. She loves the peaceful life in the forest and fears that future generations might forget the wisdom of their elders.

 

At the recent meeting, Varî Vãti spoke to the tribe, urging them to focus on living in peace and harmony. She expressed her concern for the future, fearing that the younger generation might lose their way.

 

Varî Vãti is a calm and thoughtful person, known for her knowledge of cooking, medicinal plants, and traditional crafts. Her daughter-in-law, Raimunda, says that these village elders are like a "library of the forest," and their knowledge is difficult to pass on.

 

Even though her son encourages her to take better care of herself and use modern medicine, Varî Vãti trusts in the forest and its spirits to care for her.

 

Adapted from New York Times

 

                                                             

 

Read the questions and choose the correct answer.

 

1. How did Varî Vãti Marubo travel to the village for the tribe’s meeting?

   a) On a boat 

   b) On a truck 

   c) On her son's back 

   d) By walking alone 

  

 

2. How old do some members of the Marubo tribe believe Varî Vãti Marubo is?

   a) 90 years old 

   b) 107 years old 

   c) Over 120 years old 

   d) 150 years old 

 

3. What does Varî Vãti Marubo say about taking care of herself?

   a) She relies on Western medicine. 

   b) She believes the forest and its spirits take care of her. 

   c) She often wears shoes to protect her feet. 

   d) She only listens to her son’s advice. 

  

 

4. What significant change has Varî Vãti observed in her tribe?

   a) An increase in the population 

   b) More young people moving to cities 

   c) A decrease in hunting 

   d) The introduction of new crops 

 

5. What role does Varî Vãti Marubo play in her tribe?

   a) She is a healer. 

   b) She is the senior elder. 

   c) She is the tribe’s chief. 

   d) She is a spiritual leader. 

  

 

Read the questions and write the answers.

 

1. How does Varî Vãti Marubo's life reflect the changes faced by the Indigenous people of the Amazon over the past century?

 

2. Why is Varî Vãti Marubo concerned about the younger generation of her tribe?

 

3. Describe the significance of the communal hut (maloca) in Varî Vãti Marubo’s life.

 

4. How has the introduction of modern technology, such as the internet, impacted the Marubo tribe?

 

5. What lessons can be learned from Varî Vãti Marubo’s approach to life and her connection to the forest?

 

 

 

Download the document to see the answer key.



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