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People group profile · PG017115

The Tapayuna of Brazil

The Tapayuna of Brazil, numbering about 150 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an Indigenous Northern Jê people originally from the Arinos River region of Mato Grosso who survived near-destruction and resettlement in the Xingu, maintaining a distinct Kajkwakratxi identity among related Jê peoples.

They are an indigenous people in the South American Indigenous people cluster of the Latin American and Caribbean Peoples. Their primary religion is Ethnoreligion, and they primarily speak Suyá.

Pray for the TapayunaPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Tapayuna people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Tapayuna

Fast facts

Country
Brazil
Population
150
Affinity group
American Peoples
People cluster
South American Indigenous
Primary language
Suyá (suy)
Primary religion
Ethnoreligion
Strategic Progress Index ?
Unengaged and Unreached
Evangelical
No Known Evangelicals
GSEC ?
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority ?
Frontier Unreached People Group
Region
South America, Americas
Location
Mato Grosso: Xingú Park, headwaters of Rio Culuene; Pará: Terra Indígena Capoto or Jarina reservation, Kayapó villages (2002 ISA)

Where they live

Gospel status

The Tapayuna are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist No
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Tapayuna

  • Pray that God would send workers to this people group
  • Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
  • Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice

Primary religion

Ethnoreligion

80% adherents

Primary language

Suyá · Nuclear-Macro-Je family

100% speak Suyá

Gospel resources in Suyá

  • Bible available, published 2007
  • JESUS Film not available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources not available
  • Bible stories not available

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Tapayuna

  1. Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
  2. Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
  3. Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
  4. John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.

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