What is the Indian's day? Is it a holiday? Annually on the day April 19th in Brazil, is celebrated the Indian's day. This date serves to remember the historical date of 1940, and is not considered a holiday. ANDThis day serves to reinforce the identity of the people Brazilian indigenous in current history and culture.
In order to preserve the traditions and identity of these people who suffered so much, the Day of the Indigenous, date that arose so as not to let the new generations forget our roots that form our people.
Each indigenous nation had different religious beliefs and rituals. However, all tribes believed in the forces of nature and the spirits of ancestors. For these gods and spirits, they performed rituals, ceremonies and feasts.
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Indians look similar, but there are many differences between them.
All aspects of indigenous culture can vary greatly between peoples, or even within the same community over time.
Language, form of social and political organization, rituals, myths, forms of expression artistic, housing and the way of relating to the environment are examples of factors that differentiate.
We celebrate every year on the day April 19th, the Day of the Indian. This commemorative date was created in 1943 by President Getúlio Vargas. On this day there are several events dedicated to the appreciation of indigenous culture.
It should also be a day of reflection on the importance of preserving indigenous peoples, maintaining their lands and respecting their cultural manifestations.
We must also remember that the Indians already inhabited our country when the Portuguese arrived here in 1500 (Discovery of Brazil) Since that date, what we have seen has been the disrespect and decline of indigenous populations.
The Indians were the first inhabitants of Brazilian territory. They are made up of different peoples with different habits, customs and languages.
The indigenous tribes had a relationship based on social, political and religious rules, not the same as the white man.
Everyone has the same rights and receives the same treatment.
The land, for example, belongs to everyone and when an Indian hunts, he usually shares it with the inhabitants of his tribe.
Only the instruments of work (axe, bows, arrows, harpoons) are individually owned.
They care about body painting, they share the work, it is up to the men to defend the territory, clearing fields, building houses, fishing and others.
Body painting is a cultural asset of great value, representing part of history, everyday feelings and sacred goods. We use body painting at parties such as weddings, births, celebrations, dances, fights, mourning, protection, etc.
We have paint for the face, arms, back and even the legs. We use specific paintings for married and single men and women. The paintings have a variety of sizes and meanings.
What is the Indian's day?
The curumins (as indigenous children are called).
The Curumim learn by walking together with their elders, whether father, brother, mother, or grandmother, they carefully observe what the elders are doing or saying; go fishing with the adults and play a lot! Each game is a way to learn a skill that will be important in the future, like knowing how to hunt, fish, make body paintings, manufacture bows and arrows, baskets… It is through these learning processes that children improve the techniques necessary to perform these activities.
The work in the tribe is carried out by everyone, but it is divided by sex and age.
When they turned 13 to 14 years old they went through a ceremony to enter adulthood.
To prove masculinity the tribe's boys have to put their hands inside a glove full of bullet ants. Just to give you an idea of the pain, this ant's bite is 20 times more painful than a wasp's.
For 10 painful minutes the boys have to dance with their hands inside their gloves. The pain is so severe that seizures are possible, and the pain can last for 24 hours.
To work this commemorative date in the classroom, let's suggest some suggestions:
Other suggestions:
On this day of the year there are several events dedicated to the appreciation of indigenous culture. In schools, students usually do research on indigenous culture, museums hold exhibitions and municipalities organize commemorative parties. It should also be a day of reflection on the importance of preserving indigenous peoples, maintaining their lands and respecting their cultural manifestations.
We must also remember that the Indians already inhabited our country when the Portuguese arrived here in 1500. Since that date, what we have seen has been the disrespect and decline of indigenous populations. This process is still taking place, as with mining and exploitation of natural resources, many indigenous peoples are losing their lands.
O Indian's day was created in 1943 by President Getúlio Vargas, through decree law number 5.540. When the first Inter-American Indigenous Congress took place.
The objective of this congress was to bring together indigenous leaders from different regions of the American continent and ensure their rights.
The event almost fizzled out on opening day. But it was successful on the 19th. So the indigenous leaders put distrust and fear aside and appeared to discuss their rights in a remarkable meeting.
At the international level, the United Nations (UN) also created the International Day of Indigenous Peoples (9 of August) to raise awareness among governments and the world's population about the importance of preserving and recognizing the rights of indigenous peoples.
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