O Indian's day is celebrated in April 19th and was instituted in Brazil during the Vargas government.
Schools, entities and various indigenous groups hold events in order to remember the importance of indigenous culture in the formation of the Brazilian people.
Origin and history of the Day of the Indian
On April 19, 1940, the "1st Inter-American Indigenous Congress" was held in the municipality of Pátzcuaro, in the state of Michoacán, Mexico.
Thus, to celebrate this event, April 19 was the date chosen during the government of Getúlio Vargas (1883-1954), through Decree-Law No. 5.540, of 1943.
Several government officials and several indigenous leaders were present at the congress. During the event, the Inter-American Institute of Indigenous Peoples was created, based in Mexico, which works by collaborating in the coordination of indigenous policies in America.
4 activities to celebrate the Indian Day
In schools it is usual for children to participate in this day of activities that refer to indigenous customs.
Unfortunately, due to American influence, students end up copying US models rather than valuing Brazil's rich indigenous culture.
Therefore, some suggestions for activities to celebrate the Indian Day:
- cuisine: prepare some food with cassava, make a recipe like a boiled banana with fish.
- Literature and Portuguese Language: storytelling from indigenous legends and search for the meaning of words of indigenous origin.
- Sport: perform any modality that is provided for in the Indigenous Games, such as launching a spear or racing with logs.
- Art: show students photos of different indigenous ethnic groups in Brazil (or the world) and ask them to reproduce it on themselves. Remembering that indigenous people do not just paint their faces, but their bodies. It is also possible to use the feather art indigenous people to carry out manual work.
Importance of the Indigenous People and their contribution to Brazilian culture
The indigenous people were an important part of the formation of Brazilian culture. Its influence is revealed in the customs, food, language and ethnic mix of the Brazilian people.
We can point out the use of the hammock, the handicraft of straw and vine, the manufacture of ceramic utensils, with some of these brands.
In cooking, we have foods made with corn, fruits and cassava. In medicine, the use of medicinal herbs stands out. Likewise, in Brazilian folklore, there are figures of caboclinhos, shamans, legends that tell the origin of plants like the water lily and birds like the Uirapuru.
Read too: The indigenous legend of Vitória-régia
11 examples of words of indigenous origin
A considerable number of words of indigenous origin are part of the Brazilian vocabulary:
- Maracanã
- Ipanema
- Itamaracá
- itu
- pororoca
- peacock bass
- uirapuru
- cashew
- cherry
- jaci
- Iara
There are 896 919 Indians from 305 ethnic groups in Brazil, who speak 274 languages and live throughout the country.
In 2012, a survey was carried out in 32 villages in all regions of the country, where 1222 Indians from twenty ethnic groups were interviewed.
The survey results reveal that the Indians want to progress socially through work and studies, while still valuing their culture.
read more:
- Indigenous Culture
- Brazilian Indians
- Guarani Indians
- Tupi-Guarani Culture
- Indigenous Legends