53. Relatives in South America

54. Possible Relatives in the Americas

The Kawesqar (Alakaluf) People

by George Weber

The Kawesqar (Qawashqar, Kaueskar) are also known as Alakaluf (Halakwulup, Halakwalip), Hekaine, Aksaná or Hekaine. They lived very much like the Yamana tribe did to their east. If it was not for the quite different language, one could classify the two tribes as cultural subgroups of a larger tribe.

The Kawesqar seem to have worn more clothes than the Yamana - at least when a photographer was around.

Relations between the Yamana and the Kawesqar seem to have been easygoing. There was none of the fear towards the Kawsqar that the Yamana showed towards the Ona . The Kawesqar York Minster (one of Captain FitzRoys captive Fuegians) was captured deep in Yamana territory and his personal relationship with the other three captives (who were all Yamana) were rmarkably cordial most of the time. Whatever York Minster's reason for being in Yamana lands at the time of his capture - probably hunting or trading - it was not resented by the Yamana. Technology (canoe, tools, shelters, etc.) also seem to have been similar between the two groups. For this reason we will not duplicate here what he have already said in the Yamana section.

As in all the other Fuegian tribes touched by outsiders from the mid-19th century onwards, the number of Kawesqar has sunk steadily. Today they are culturally extinct but some individuals are still alive and the tribe is not entirely extinct yet.

1850: 4,000 Kawesqar persons

1925: 150 Kawesqar persons

1955: 60 Kawesqar persons

1985: 50 Kawesqar people

1996 20 Kawesqar people

For the Kawesqar (Alakaluf) language with some sample words and comparisons with other languages, see the chapter Fuegian languages.

Kawesqar mother and child.