The Yeꞌkuana, also called Yeꞌkwana, YeꞌKuana, Yekuana, Yequana, Yecuana, Dekuana, Maquiritare, Makiritare, Soꞌto and Maiongong, are a Cariban-speaking tropical rain-forest tribe who live in the Caura River and Orinoco River regions of Venezuela in Bolivar State and Amazonas State.

Building the atta is considered a spiritual activity in which the group reproduces the great cosmic home of the Creator.

The first reference to the Yeꞌkuana was in 1744 by a Jesuit priest called Manuel Román in his travels to investigate the existence of the Casiquiare canal.

The Alto Orinoco-Casiquiare Biosphere Reserve was established by the Venezuelan government in 1993 with the objective of preserving the traditional territory and lifestyle of the Yanomami and Yeꞌkuana peoples.

Liedloff noted the stark contrast between the treatment of Western and Yeꞌkuana infants, who are normally held "in-arms" 24 hours a day by their mothers and by other familiar adults and children who take care of them.