The Guarasugwé peoples, also known as the Guarasug’wä or Pauserna, are an Indigenous group native to the eastern lowlands of Bolivia, particularly in the Santa Cruz Department along the banks of the Río Guaporé near the Brazilian border. Traditionally semi-nomadic, they have relied on fishing, hunting, and small-scale agriculture to sustain their communities while maintaining a deep cultural connection to the Amazon rainforest. Their language, a Tupian dialect, reflects their ancestral ties and is an important part of their identity.
The Guarasugwé have faced severe population decline and cultural erosion due to colonization, missionary activities, and territorial encroachment. Their numbers dwindled significantly throughout the 20th century, with many integrating into surrounding communities or losing fluency in their native language. Today, the Guarasugwé face challenges in preserving their distinct cultural practices and securing legal recognition of their lands, which are increasingly affected by agricultural expansion and environmental pressures in the Amazon basin.
Despite their small population, the Guarasugwé are actively engaging in efforts to reclaim their identity and protect their ancestral lands. Community-led initiatives are working to revitalize their language, oral traditions, and ecological knowledge, especially among younger generations. Their quiet yet powerful commitment to preserving their culture and environment serves as a reminder that even the smallest Indigenous nations can inspire global conversations about resilience, rights, and the future of our planet’s forests.
