Chamacoco

The Chamacoco people (Ishír) are an Indigenous people of Paraguay. Some also live in Brazil. The Chamacoco have two major divisions, the Ebytoso, who lived along the Paraguay River, and the Tomáraho, who traditionally lived in the forests. The Ebytoso converted to Christianity, while the Tomáraho have lived in marginal areas in order to preserve their traditional world views and lifeways. In the 1980s the Instituto Nacional del Indigena (INDI) resettled the Tomáraho in a community called Puerto Esperanza with the Ebytoso. The Chamacoco people are one of many Indigenous groups in the Gran Chaco who are impacted by the devastating effects of deforestation in the region. The Chamacoco are also known as the Ishiro, Yshiro, Jeywo, Yshyro, Xamicoco, Xamacoco, or Yshyr people. Their autonym is Ishír. The term ɨshɨr (also spelled Ishir or Yshyr) properly means 'person', but now is also used with the meaning of 'Indigenous' in opposition to the Paraguayan people, who are called Maro. According to the 2002 census the population yshyr in Paraguay that identified themselves as yshyr was 1571 people, mainly located in the district of Fuerte Olimpo in Paraguay, being the largest migrant group which is in the district Ygatimí (85 in 2002).