essay

The structure of kinship and marriage among the Canelos Quichua of east-central Ecuador

marriage practices in lowland south america (14) • Published In 1984 • Pages: 194-220, 265-283

By: Whitten, Norman E., Whitten, Dorothea S..

Abstract
This is a detailed study of kinship structure and marriaage among the Canelos Quichua of East-Central Ecuador. For the Canelos Quichua, marriage consists of a process of spouse acquisition (for a man, [n]huarmiyuj[/n], or the 'possession of a woman'; for a woman, [n]cariyuj[/n], 'possession of a man'), the entire process which takes about three years to accomplish. During this period the authors describe how segments of maximal [n]ayllus[/n] are linked, residence shifts take place, territoriality somewhat redefined, fictive kinship ([i]gumba[/i] relations established, and a micro-universe [n]huasi[/n] or household, founded. All of these events take place within the constraints of the kin class system and the system of shamanism (p. 196).
Subjects
Kindreds and ramages
Household
Kinship terminology
Marriage
Shamans and psychotherapists
Burial practices and funerals
Religious beliefs
culture
Canelos Quichua
HRAF PubDate
2010
Region
South America
Sub Region
Amazon and Orinoco
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle; 2009
Field Date
1968-1976
Coverage Date
1968-1979
Coverage Place
Pastaza province, Ecuador
Notes
Norman E. Whitten, Jr., and Dorothea S. Whitten
Includes bibliographical references (p.265-283)
LCCN
83004924
LCSH
Canelo Indians