Dances and feasts make Amazonian chief's funeral unique; see pics

Yawalapiti, Kalapalo and Mehinako people play the urua bamboo flutes as they dance during the Kuarup funeral ritual to honor the memory of Cacique Aritana, at the Xingu Indigenous Park in Brazil.

Tapi Yawalapiti, a Yawalapiti cacique (chief), walks alongside women during the closing of the Kuarup funeral ritual to honor the memory of his father Cacique Aritana, at the Xingu Indigenous Park in Brazil.

Mabitchuri, a Yawalapiti child, takes part in an "end of mourning dance" during the Kuarup funeral ritual to honor the memory of Cacique Aritana, at the Xingu Indigenous Park in Brazil.

Manapu, a Yawalapiti man, holds a blue-and-yellow macaw during the Kuarup funeral ritual to honor the memory of Cacique Aritana, at the Xingu Indigenous Park in Brazil.

A Yawalapiti man cooks fish during the Kuarup funeral ritual to honor the memory of Cacique Aritana, at the Xingu Indigenous Park in Brazil.

Kawa, a Yawalapiti woman, is removed from a ceremony after becoming emotional in front of tree trunks that represent distinguished people who have recently died, during the Kuarup funeral ritual to honor the memory of Cacique Aritana, at the Xingu Indigenous Park in Brazil.

Yawalapiti women perform an "end of mourning dance" during the Kuarup funeral ritual to honor the memory of Cacique Aritana, at the Xingu Indigenous Park in Brazil.

Yawalapiti men decorate tree trunks that are meant to represent distinguished people who have recently died during the Kuarup funeral ritual to honor the memory of Cacique Aritana, at the Xingu Indigenous Park in Brazil.

A Yawalapiti man is seen with a fish tied to his waist at the Tuatuari river, during the Kuarup funeral ritual to honor the memory of Cacique Aritana, at the Xingu Indigenous Park in Brazil.

A Yawalapiti man waits before taking part in a wrestling match during the Kuarup funeral ritual to honor the memory of Cacique Aritana, at the Xingu Indigenous Park in Brazil.