Alone, isolated and aloof from contact with other people, the Indian of the Hole was found in the region of Corumbiara, Rondônia, and it is believed that he isolated himself after the white men had massacred his people. That is why his ethnicity or language was never known. The little information about him is that he made holes inside the houses where he lived, so the name "Indian of the Hole".
Anthropologist (2016) by Acervo KanindéKanindé - Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection
Sérgio Cruz - Anthropologist
Farmers were interested in using the area where the Indian of the Hole lived, so they claimed that he was a legend and that there was no one there. So monitoring the region and looking for clues or traces of the indigenous was fundamental not only to know a little more about his culture but also for his own safety.
Indigenist (2016) by Acervo KanindéKanindé - Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection
Ivaneide Bandeira, "Neidinha" - Indigenist
"Waiting trap" (1995) by Acervo KanindéKanindé - Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection
Ivaneide Bandeira and other Kanindé officials have been monitoring nearby Indian of the Hole for years. In this photo we have a "wait" made by the indigenous for hunting. The person constructs a structure to stay above the ground and, therefore, outside the line of sight of certain animals.
Traces (1995) by Acervo KanindéKanindé - Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection
All kinds of clues or details are important in locating isolated Indians. Here remains were found from a campfire used to prepare a bird called mutum.
Indigenist (2016) by Acervo KanindéKanindé - Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection
Ivaneide Bandeira, "Neidinha" - Indigenist
Diary (1995) by Acervo KanindéKanindé - Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection
"We found traces always on the right bank of the trench (broken) and right of Corumbiara. They were recent breaks of about a week." Ivaneide Bandeira ("Neidinha") Field Diary
"Broken limb" (1995) by Acervo KanindéKanindé - Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection
“Quebrada” that signals the passage of someone. The same can also be done by animals, however, in this case marks of teeth would be found.
"We walked ahead Rogério, Alemão and me, and Evandro and Paulo went on the other side. We walked 30 meters and found a camp, I felt an immense emotion, it was freshly made from 5 to 10 days, full of hulled jabuti and one armadillo that were baked. There were two fires and straw on the floor to lie down. According to the boys it is a hunting camp. We decided to leave an ax as a gift. We made a mark on the ax." Field Diary of Ivaneide Bandeira ("Neidinha")
Kanoê people (1995) by Acervo KanindéKanindé - Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection
Amidst the searches for the Indian of the Hole, another group was found, the Kanoê people. The contact was made in 1995 and they were near the river Omerê, a tributary of Corumbiara. The Kanoê people had also been massacred by the white man, however, not only they accept the presence of the non-Indian, but they also helped to search for vestiges of the Indian of the Hole.
Traces (1995) by Acervo KanindéKanindé - Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection
The presence of the Kanoê people in the expeditions to look for the Indian of the Hole was fundamental because they already had great knowledge of the forest and the region.
Indigenist (2016) by Acervo KanindéKanindé - Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection
Ivaneide Bandeira, "Neidinha" - Indigenist
Akun'su tribe (1995) by Acervo KanindéKanindé - Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection
Still during the searches for the Indian of the Hole, another ethnic group was found, the Akun'su (or Akuntsu). The people were in the same region and the contact was made in 1995.
Akun'su people (1995) by Acervo KanindéKanindé - Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection
Akun'su
Anthropologist (2016) by Acervo KanindéKanindé - Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection
Sérgio Cruz - Anthropologist
Hole (1995) by Acervo KanindéKanindé - Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection
The Kanindé team indeed locate where the Indian of the Hole was, which was essential to prove his existence and ensure their protection. However, it was decided not to make contact in order to preserve him, since the records made were sufficient to obtain the defense of the land.
Corumbiara (2009) by Vincent CarelliKanindé - Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection
Although the native had resisted to make contact, the filmmaker Vicent Carelli obtained the only records of him, suspicious and threatening to attack the film crew. The passage is part of the Corumbiara documentary. Since then, the Indian of the Hole has never been seen again.
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