Karapanã is an ethnic group originating from the jungles of the Colombian department of Vaupés and the Brazilian state of Amazonas, dispersed by the Ti, Piraparaná and Papurí rivers, in the Vaupés basin. In ñe’engatú, the name karapanã means “little night owl”, an allusion to his self-designation as müdea (“mosquitoes”). Although each clan has its own name, they all consider themselves “doctors of the great river bee” (riberoa paârâ ücomajâ).
They live in “malocas” or wii communal houses, rectangular, oriented from east to west, with a gabled roof that reaches 8 m in height. Its economy articulates itinerant agriculture, fishing and hunting. Its main crop is bitter yucca. They use various instruments to fish: traps or nets made by them, barbasco and bow and arrow.