People group profile · PG016441
The Wayana of Suriname
The Wayana of Suriname, numbering about 650 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Cariban people formed from the amalgamation of the Upului, Opagwana, and Kukuyana, who migrated from Brazil's Paru and Jari rivers into Suriname and French Guiana as colonization-driven conflicts spread, never fully colonized themselves.
They are an indigenous people in the South American Indigenous people cluster of the Latin American and Caribbean Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Wayana.
Fast facts
- Country
- Suriname
- Population
- 650
- Affinity group
- American Peoples
- People cluster
- South American Indigenous
- Primary language
- Wayana (way)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 50% or Greater but Less than 75%
- GSEC
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Significantly Reached People Group
- Region
- South America, Americas
Where they live
Gospel status
The Wayana are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Wayana
- Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
- Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
- Send out laborers from this people to the nations
Primary religion
Protestantism · Christianity
55% adherents
Primary language
Wayana · Cariban family
100% speak Wayana
Gospel resources in Wayana
- Bible available, published 1979
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Bibles
- 1979 World Team · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Wayana
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
Wayana in other countries
The same people (ROP3 110731) is reported in 2 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayana | French Guiana | 2,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Wayana | Brazil | 300 | No Longer Unreached |
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