- HubPages»
- Education and Science»
- History & Archaeology»
- History of the Americas
Native South Americans of Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay
One Thousand Tribes in Brazil
At least a thousand different tribes of Native South American have lived in Brazil.
Before Spanish and Portuguese explorers landed in the Caribbean Islands, Florida, Mexico, Central America and South America around 1500, these thousand separate tribal groups or lived in Brazil alone, but many more inhabited the surrounding lands.
This long-time indigenous population included upwards of 13,000,000 people or more, but in the early 21st Century, there were fewer than 400,000 remaining in official government counts.
Original Hispanic Exploration
Union of Indigenous Nations
In 1979, the Union of Indigenous Nations was established as the first national indigenous organization in Brazil, directed solely by South American Indians, without interference from the national government or the Catholic Church. After 1988, new language was added to the Brazilian Constitution to support indigenous peoples.
The federal government of Brazil sent soldiers into some of the native lands to eject illegal logging operations, thus saving parts of the Amazon rain forest.
The Guarani Forced Westward in the 1600s
Site of slave trade of Guarani people after European arrival.
Brazilian Indigenous Warriors
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeIndigenous Brazil: Major Groups
As reported by Survival International, the major native nations of indigenous Brazilian people have been reduced to the following list:
- Awa-Guaja
- Guarani - about 80,000 and the largest group in Brazil as well as elsewhere on the continent. They live in seven different states. Paraguay is another major homeland for these people, with far fewer numbers than found in Brazil.
- Kanamari, Kaxinawa
- Maku/Mauxi
- Matis (not "Meti"s) - These people's magic animal is the jaguar and they use the drug curare as a weapon, a paralyzing drug. It is weaker doses of curare used in the Louisiana Delta and the Caribbean that first gave rise to "zombies."
- Tenharim, Terena, Tikuna, Tukano, Tupi
- Waimiri-Atroari
- Yanomami
Some Tribes Remain Isolated
According to the Brazilian government, at least 50 tribes of native Brazilians have never met a Caucasian.
Lesser-Known Brazilian Tribal Groups
- Amanye, Atikum
- Baniwa, Botocudo, Bara
- Enawene-Nawe
- Kadiweu, Kaingang, Kamayura, Karaja, Kayapo, Kubeo, Kaxinawa, Kokama, Korubo, Kulina-Madiha
- Mbya, Makuxi, Matses, Mayoruna, Munduruku, Mura
- Nambikwara
- Ofayé
- Pai Tavytera, Panara, Pankararu, Pataxo, Piraha, Paiter, Potiguara
- Satere Mawe, Surui do Para
- Tapirape, Tremembe
- Waorani, Wapixana, Wauja, Witoto
- Xakriaba, Xavante, Xukuru
Federal Native Reserves
Brazilian Fish Dance of Joy
Paraguay
Seventeen Tribes
Paraguay's original native peoples are thought to have been divided into at least 17 to 19 different tribal groups.
These tribes represented only six separate language families, meaning that many of these tribes were related, perhaps in subgroups of two or three tribes or more.
The ancient Brazilian thousand tribes likely mixed with Paraquay and Uruguay peoples, especially after the oncoming influx of Spanish and Portuguese explorers and settlers who drove the indigenous groups westward together.
Most of the Paraguay Natives Live in Gran Chaco
Paraguay indigenous peoples include at least five language groups:
- Guarani of the same people in Brazil and Bolivia (Ache, Ave, Mbya, Pai Tavytera, Nandeva, and Guarani Occidental)
- Maskoy (Toba Maskoy, Enlhet Norte, Enxet Sur, Sanapana, Angaite, and Guane)
- Mataco Mataguayo (Nivacle, Maka, and Manjui)
- Zamuco (Ayoreo, Yvytoso, and Tomaraho)
- Guaicuru (Qom)
In 2015, the Xakmok Kasek tribe was legally allowed to return to their land in Paraguay after 30 years in exile.
Uruguay
The sole indigenous inhabitants living in Uruguay before Spanish and Portuguese settlers advanced on them were a single tribe Known as the Charrua Indians.
The Charrua comprised a small nation of people that had been driven south by another tribe, the Guarani Indians of Paraguay and Brazil. The Charrua were likely forced into the northwestern part of the continent abutting Uruguay, because the Guarani were widespread in territory, especially throughout Brazil and Bolivia.
The Charruan language is related to those of other nations, including the Yaró, Guenoa, Bohane, and Minuan peoples.
Uruguay
The Charrua were determined to keep their land in Uruguay and not to be displaced again. The Spanish advanced into Uruguay in the early 16th century, but the Charrua resisted relocation. They possessed no treasures - no gold or silver - so the Spanish coexisted with them.
These Europeans introduced the natives to cattle and horses and the Spanish kept the Portuguese in Brazil, so the Charrua may have been saved from destruction that would result by additional settlers advancing.
Sources
- Price, M. Earliest South American migrants had Indigenous Australian. Science.org; Mar 29, 2021.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2008 Patty Inglish MS