The Matis people (also called Matsë in their own native language) are an indigenous people of Brazil. Outsiders sometimes call them the Jaguar People, but they do not like the name. They currently live in the far west of Brazil, in the Vale do Javari Indigenous Territory, an area covering 83,000 square kilometres (32,000 sq mi). They practice hunting, fishing, foraging and agriculture.
The Matis people's own names for themselves include the "Mushabo" ("the tattooed people" or possibly "the people of the peach palm"), the "Deshan Mikitbo" (possibly "people of the headwaters"), and the Matses. "Matses" means "person" or "human being" in Matis and related Panoan languages and can also refer to a related neighboring group known as the Matses or Mayoruma. The name Matis was given to them by non-indigenous outsiders, in particular Funai officials. Their ritual body modifications include "whiskers" that have caused some journalists or filmmakers to refer to them as the "Jaguar People", but they do not prefer this name.
The Matis language belongs to the Panoan family from the Amazonian area of Brazil. Almost all Matis men and many Matis women speak some Portuguese in addition to Matis.
Extended info about Matis people
