Summary

  • The Na'vi clans in James Cameron's Avatar have unique cultures and values, with each clan distinguished by their environment and clan values.
  • The Omaticaya clan is the main clan in the first Avatar movie, known for their spirituality and impressive textile and weaving skills.
  • The Metkayina clan is an ocean clan in Avatar: The Way of Water, serving as fierce protectors of their own culture and the gentle whale-like creatures called Tulkuns.

Created for the extensive world of James Cameron's Avatar, all 20 Na'vi clans bring something unique to the franchise. The Na'vi, whose name translates literally as "the people" in the Na'vi language, are cyan-skinned humanoid species living on the distant moon Pandora. James Cameron (via SFGATE) recalls his inspiration for the Na'vi came from a dream his mother had of a "12-foot-tall blue woman." He then incorporated this dream into a screenplay he wrote in the mid-'70s, holding onto the idea for over 30 years before making Avatar.

The Avatar franchise has far from revealed all the secrets of the 20 Na'vi tribes. The Na'vi in Avatar strongly values the complex energy network of life on Pandora. They pray to the goddess Eywa, with whom they have a physical connection through the sacred Tree of Souls. The Avatar Na'vi clans are heavily inspired by cultures on Earth. For example, the 2,600-word Na'vi language was developed by USC linguist professor Paul Frommer, using sounds from an array of indigenous languages. Pandora's Avatar Na'vi clans hold a lot of cultural similarities to each other, but every Na'vi tribe is distinguished by their environment and clan values.

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Omaticaya Clan

The Main Clan In The First Avatar Movie

Avatar's main clan is the Omaticaya, the clan Jake and Neytiri belong to. While Avatar: The Way of Water expanded the franchise by focusing on the Metkayina clan, the Omaticaya was the only Na'vi clan to whom the first Avatar gave any substantial screen time. For this reason, it may be easy to, unfortunately, generalize all the Avatar Na'vi clans' cultures with the Omaticaya's way of life.

Notable Omaticaya Na'vi characters in Avatar and Avatar 2 include Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), her mother Mo'at (CCH Pounder), who serves as the clan's spiritual leader or "Tsahiki," and the "Olo'eyktan" or clan leader Eytukan (Wes Studi), who was replaced by the powerful warrior Tsu'tey (Laz Alonso) upon his death. Human Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) becomes a part of the Omaticaya and lives with them full-time once he permanently transfers his life energy to his Na'vi avatar body. The Omaticaya are renowned for their impressive textile and weaving skills.

Most notably — as a weird deleted Avatar scene would have further proved — the Omaticaya are intensely spiritual. Hometree, or Kelutral, was incredibly important to the Omaticaya. Hometree is described in Avatar's official Activist Survival Guide (ASG) as being "two to three times the height" of Redwoods. The ASG also notes that the Omaticaya call themselves the "Clan of the Blue Flute," for they believe that Eywa created a blue flute from Hometree where the Omaticaya live.

Reserved only for spiritual occasions, the Omaticaya's Olo'eyktan will play the blue flute to communicate with spirits, ancestors, and Eywa herself. It isn't considered a musical instrument, despite its name and melodic nature. Out of the Avatar Na'vi clans, the Omaticaya will also fashion their bows from Hometree, only once they're considered ready to do so. The destruction of Hometree in Avatar not only left the Omaticaya homeless, but it affected their very identity.

Jake Sully's life with the Omaticaya strongly differs from his Earth life shown in an Avatar deleted scene. Neytiri teaches him how to ride banshees, known as ikran, and direhorses. Jake also learns from Neytiri about Eywa, Hometree life, Pandora's energetic network, and the plentitude of jungle resources. The Omaticaya learned English and human customs from the late Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver), who wanted to learn more about the Na'vi people and taught them her ways as a means of extending goodwill.

Metkayina Clan

The Water Clan From Avatar: The Way Of Water

The Metkayina is an ocean clan on the eastern coast who welcome Jake and Neytiri's family after Jake's guerilla campaign against the RDA goes haywire, and Spider is kidnapped. Fearful that Spider knows the family's location. Jake and Neytiri exile themselves from the Omaticaya and flee to the eastern seaboard, where they are taken in by the tattooed Metkayina Chief Tonowari. Tonowari and his wife Ronal are warriors themselves who send their children Ao'nung and Tsireya on expeditions with their direhorses.

As fierce protectors of their clan and way of life, Tonowari and Ronal have reservations about Jake's family's ability to acclimate to their oceanic culture. However, during The Way of Water, this coastal Avatar Na'vi clan is forced to intervene when the RDA starts hunting down the peace-loving Tulkuns — a gentle whale-like and sentient creature that the Metkayina sees as their spiritual brethren. The RDA wishes to slaughter Tulkuns for a substance known as amrita, which has anti-aging effects. In Avatar: The Way of Water's ending, the RDA is stopped — for now — and the Metkayina clan promises Jake and Neytiri's family home before Jake vows to resume his campaign against the RDA.

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Olangi Clan

Appeared Briefly In The First Avatar Movie

While not mentioned explicitly by name, the Olangi clan is present in Avatar as the horse clans living on the plain. Out of all the Avatar Na'vi clans, the direhorse is pivotal to the Olangi's nomadic way of life. The Olangi have different resources at their disposal from the jungle-dwelling Omaticaya and move around based on game patterns. During Avatar's final battle, they're useful in ground combat, fighting alongside Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore) in avatar form. Because Avatar 2 focuses on Pandora's oceans, the Olangi aren't developed much further in the sequel.

Tayrangi Clan

A Clan Not Shown Much In The Movies

Tayrangi Clan - Ikran Clan of the Eastern Sea, Avatar

Like the Olangi, the Tayrangi clan isn't mentioned explicitly by name as one of the Avatar Na'vi clans on Pandora. The Tayrangi live on the Eastern Sea's cliffs and value the ikran for travel in a way that the Olangi relies on direhorses. The Tayrangi were useful in aerial combat during Avatar's final battle. Because of their ikran-riding prowess, the Tayrangi clan is similar to the Kekunan clan of the north. The Tayrangi people are also known for their swimming skills and their generally eclectic, independent nature.

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Tawkami Clan

First Appeared In James Cameron's Avatar: The Game NDS

Tawkami Clan in Avatar, as seen in the NDS version of James Cameron's Avatar: the video game

While Avatar introduced a couple of other Avatar Na'vi clans, Avatar video games bring many of Pandora's other clans to life. While Avatar doesn't show life on Earth, renamed Terran, the Na'vi mirror humans in many ways with the Tawkami expressing another human cultural trait not seemingly recognized by other clans. Known as the Sky Seer clan, the Tawkami value knowledge, record-keeping, chemistry, and research. They developed a writing system for the Na'vi language that is yet to be seen in the movies. Like the Omaticaya, they live in the jungle. Their village is known as Greenhome.

Tipani Clan

First Appeared In James Cameron's Avatar: The Game NDS

Tipani clan in James Cameron's Avatar: The Game in Din Da'alo village

Explored further in James Cameron's Avatar: The Game, the Tipani clan was the first of the Avatar Na'vi clans to make contact with humans. They are known for their fearlessness and tact in battle and are regarded as strong, skilled warriors. The clan divides itself into separate villages and is the only known of the Avatar Na'vi clans to wear actual armor in battle. They are also the fiercest hunters, and their children trained from a very young age as warriors. Most of what is known about them comes from the game, which is now considered non-canon.

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Anurai Clan

First Seen In The Wii/PSP Version Of Avatar: The Game

Anurai Clan in Avatar

The Anurai are an artisanal clan skilled in using bones. They revere a creature known as the thanator, and find their homes in secluded valleys on Pandora. They're mentioned in James Cameron's Avatar: The Game and Cirque du Soleil's Toruk - The First Flight. They are also in constant danger from the Resources Development Administration thanks to their valuable artifacts. This was the clan that was at the center of the game, as it was the surviving members who sought revenge when their clan was slaughtered by Sean Wallen for their artifacts to sell on Earth's black market.

Li'ona Clan

First Seen In The Wii/PSP Version Of Avatar: The Game

Li'ona Clan in Avatar

This clan is from James Cameron's Avatar: The Game. The clan lives in poor conditions near human factories. Thankfully, Rai'uk helped defend them against their human antagonists. While their clan was dying off thanks to the rivers running dry and the flora and fauna dying off. When Rai'uk took the battle to the humans and destroyed the dam, their rivers began running again and he saved his clan. Rai'uk eventually rejected the offer to join the clan and set off to help other Avatar Na'vi clans against the human attackers.

Hulanta Clan

Appeared In The Avatar: Reckoning Mobile Game

Hulanta Clan in Avatar

From the Avatar: Reckoning mobile game, the Hulanta are considered a Wetlands clan. They considered water to be sacred but were forced from their homes thanks to bombings from the RDA. They are also experts in both pottery and weaving, and they are not a warring clan. While Avatar: The Way of Water showed several water clans, this one was not shown and only existed in the game.

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Huyuticaya Clan

Only Mentioned In Avatar's Activist Survival Guide

Huyuticaya Clan from Avatar

The Huyuticaya are mentioned in Avatar's Activist Survival Guide to have a "tremendous love and respect for viperwolves" (page 105) that they reflect on their streamer or their clan's flag. The clan also marks their faces, hands, and feet with white warpaint to show they have no fear of death.

Ni'awve Clan

First Mentioned In Avatar Mobile Game

The Ni'awve Clan in Avatar

If this interesting Na'vi Avatar theory is correct, the Ni'awve may not even originally be from Pandora. The Ni'awve is the first Na'vi clan ever to take residence in the Valley of Origins. They were first mentioned in the Avatar mobile game. When the human Ryan Lorez had a vision near the Tree of Souls, it was this clan that praised him as their savior and taught him the ways of the Na'vi. Their leader Tse'huk also appeared in the game and Jake Sully helped rescue him there.

Kekunan Clan

Appeared In Toruk - The First Flight

The Kekunan are from Toruk - The First Flight and are known for being great aerial hunters and Ikran riders. Known for their colorful attire and culture, this Avatar Na'vi clan often performs sacred dances. They are also the masters of the sky and the greatest of the banshee's wranglers on Pandora. This is because they begin teaching their children banshee riding at a very early age. The clan was not revealed until 2015, but examples of their craft skills exist in the first movie, including the battle band worn by Jake Sully.

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Aranahe Clan

Appears In Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora

The Aranahe Clan in Avatar Frontiers of Pandoea The Aranahe Clan makes their first appearance in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. This clan is the first to show up in the game and introduces the player to the world of Pandora. They share a strong similarity to the clan from the first game, although they also have a connection to the Kinglor, a moth-like creature on Pandora. This connection plays into their roles as Weavers as well, as they create items out of the Kinglor's silk, including weapons. This clan is also not one that is interested in fighting and mostly dismisses the idea of the RDA threat. They mostly have a love for the arts and are immediately dismissive of those who question their ancient ways.

Zeswa Clan

Appears In Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora

The Zeswa Clan in Avatar Frontiers of Pandoea

The Zeswa Clan is another one from the Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora game who have no desire to fight the RDA. This clan lives mostly a nomadic life, and they feel they have nothing to fear from the RDA until the villains begin hunting the Zakru, creatures they bond with that provide them with milk. While they don't desire to fight, they are still fierce and proud warriors, almost to the point of arrogance. They live in the Upper Plains and are also masters of dieehorse riding. They are also wanderers, but it is easy to find them due to their use of kites.

Kame’tire Clan

Appears In Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora

The Kame'tire Clan in Avatar Frontiers of Pandoea

The Kame'tire Clan is another from the Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora game, and there isn't much known about them thanks to their secret and mostly paranoid lifestyles. They are healers and herbalists who live close to the Clouded Forest, and they have hidden reasons for remaining away from the other clans, which makes them a clan that others can't completely trust. While living in exile, their leader, Mokasa, keeps those from outside their clan away. They were also at one time close to the Sarentu before the mysterious event that caused them to withdraw from society. They would also prefer to remain hidden than fight th RDA.

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Sarentu Clan

Appears In Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora

The Sarentu Clan was introduced in the Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora game as the clan the player character is a member of. They are also one of the most tragic clans on Pandora. Their entire clan was almost wiped out completely by the RDA in 2139, although the event was covered up. The clan was founded by an Omatikaya Clan member and it was raised as the storytelling clan. They were highly respected as diplomats and brought peace often to warring clans. After the RDA massacre, only a few children remained alive and were taken in and raised with lies that their clan abandoned them.

Mangkwan Clan

Mentioned In Avatar: The Last Shadow Comics

Mangkwan Clan in Avatar.

The Mangkwan are briefly mentioned in Avatar: The Last Shadow comics in issue No. 4 as an ally clan to the Omaticaya. The Mangkwan took in Ateyo and Artsut after being exiled by Jake Sully. It is unknown why they would accept outcasts into their clan, and little else is known about this Avatar Na'vi clan's history or culture.

Rey'tanu Clan

Mentioned In Avatar: Reckoning Mobile Game

Rey'tanu Clan in Avatar

The Rey'tanu were mentioned briefly in the Avatar: Reckoning mobile game. They primarily rely on agriculture and are said to live in the highlands of Pandora. Nothing is known about their history or culture. However, they live in a more primitive manner than other Avatar Na'vi clans because the biodiversity is weak where they live. They live mostly by grazing rather than hunting.

Tomac'ta Clan

Mentioned In Avatar's Pandorapedia

Tomac'ta Clan in Avatar

The Tomac'ta are mentioned in Avatar's Pandorapedia for their "tremendous love and respect for banshees." They also wear streamers in honor of these sacred creatures. There is almost nothing known at all about this Avatar Na'vi clans, as they have never shown up in a movie, game, or comic book.

Avatar_1
Avatar (2009)

3D TVs had their day, but they didn’t become as big as they could have. That downfall is especially sad when it comes to movies that were made for the format like 2009’s Avatar. Thankfully, Blu-ray high definition is just about as close to the 3D viewing experience you can get at home and the Avatar Original Theatrical Edition Blu-ray is one of the best examples available.

Studio
20th Century Fox
Run Time
162 minutes
Director
James Cameron

Key Release Dates