Guarani-Kaiowá
Encyclopedia
Guarani-Kaiowás are an indigenous people of the Brazil
ian state of Mato Grosso do Sul
. They inhabit Nhande Ru Marangatu, an area of tropical rainforest
. This was declared a reservation in October 2004. Marcos Verón, a leader of this people was beaten to death a year ago (2003).
They are one of the three Guaraní sub-groups (the others are Ñandeva and Mbya
).
They live in the Brazil
ian state of Mato Grosso do Sul
. It is estimated that more than 30,000 Guarani Indians live in Brazil, and in Paraguay
where they number 40,000. Guarani alongside Spanish is the official language.
The Guarani sub-groups have different ways of social organisation, but they share a religion which sees the land as very important. The god Ñande Ru created the Guarani as the first peoples and the Guarani are deeply spiritual, as there's a prayer house in every village and the cacique, shaman, is of great importance in the community.
"Terra sem Mal", which means land without evil is the land of the dead people in their mythology, and it is important that every soul can go to Terra sem Mal. When invaders occupied Guarani land, the Guarani feel as if their religion is offended, and when they lose their land to intruders they have too little land to sustain their traditional life, based on fishing, hunting, and farming.
, which is supposed to help indigenous peoples in Brazil, did little to help the Guarani. The Guarani are forced to leave their land and seek work on plantations, where they work as underpaid labourers. The Guarani of Mato Grosso do Sul are desperately campaigning to protect their land which is crucial for their survival.
Over the decades hundreds of Guarani-Kaiowá natives, even youths as young as 9 years old, have died. Land is crucial for survival, and to take their land is a big crime against Guarani society. Sorts of things like this have happened (after America's discovery in hands of Portugal and Spain) to the various tribes of south America, where the common background is the exploitation of their lands, and cases of mass murder and slavery in the mines (see Minas Gerais
or Potosí
).
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian state of Mato Grosso do Sul
Mato Grosso do Sul
Mato Grosso do Sul is one of the states of Brazil.Neighboring Brazilian states are Mato Grosso, Goiás, Minas Gerais, São Paulo and Paraná. It also borders the countries of Paraguay and Bolivia to the west. The economy of the state is largely based on agriculture and cattle-raising...
. They inhabit Nhande Ru Marangatu, an area of tropical rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
. This was declared a reservation in October 2004. Marcos Verón, a leader of this people was beaten to death a year ago (2003).
They are one of the three Guaraní sub-groups (the others are Ñandeva and Mbya
Mbyá Guaraní
Mbyá Guaraní is a Tupi–Guaraní language spoken 16,050 Brazilians, 3,000 Argentines, and 8,000 Paraguayans. It is 75% lexically similar to Paraguayan Guaraní.Mbyá Guaraní is one of a number of "Guaraní dialects" now generally classified as distinct languages....
).
They live in the Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian state of Mato Grosso do Sul
Mato Grosso do Sul
Mato Grosso do Sul is one of the states of Brazil.Neighboring Brazilian states are Mato Grosso, Goiás, Minas Gerais, São Paulo and Paraná. It also borders the countries of Paraguay and Bolivia to the west. The economy of the state is largely based on agriculture and cattle-raising...
. It is estimated that more than 30,000 Guarani Indians live in Brazil, and in Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
where they number 40,000. Guarani alongside Spanish is the official language.
The Guarani sub-groups have different ways of social organisation, but they share a religion which sees the land as very important. The god Ñande Ru created the Guarani as the first peoples and the Guarani are deeply spiritual, as there's a prayer house in every village and the cacique, shaman, is of great importance in the community.
"Terra sem Mal", which means land without evil is the land of the dead people in their mythology, and it is important that every soul can go to Terra sem Mal. When invaders occupied Guarani land, the Guarani feel as if their religion is offended, and when they lose their land to intruders they have too little land to sustain their traditional life, based on fishing, hunting, and farming.
Survival
The Guarani-Kaiowá had no contact with the European settlers before the late 1800s. Today their land is stolen by loggers and miners, and FUNAIFundação Nacional do Índio
Fundação Nacional do Índio or FUNAI is a Brazilian governmental protection agency for Indian interests and their culture.It was originally called the SPI and was founded by the Brazilian Marshal Cândido Rondon in 1910, who also created the agency's motto, "Die if necessary, but never kill." The...
, which is supposed to help indigenous peoples in Brazil, did little to help the Guarani. The Guarani are forced to leave their land and seek work on plantations, where they work as underpaid labourers. The Guarani of Mato Grosso do Sul are desperately campaigning to protect their land which is crucial for their survival.
Over the decades hundreds of Guarani-Kaiowá natives, even youths as young as 9 years old, have died. Land is crucial for survival, and to take their land is a big crime against Guarani society. Sorts of things like this have happened (after America's discovery in hands of Portugal and Spain) to the various tribes of south America, where the common background is the exploitation of their lands, and cases of mass murder and slavery in the mines (see Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
or Potosí
Potosí
Potosí is a city and the capital of the department of Potosí in Bolivia. It is one of the highest cities in the world by elevation at a nominal . and it was the location of the Spanish colonial mint, now the National Mint of Bolivia...
).
See also
- BirdWatchersBirdWatchers (film)BirdWatchers is a 2008 film drama set in Brazil directed by Marco Bechis. It depicts the breakdown of a community of Guarani-Kaiowa native Indians whilst attempting to reclaim their ancestral land from a local farmer....
, a 2008 film drama by Marco BechisMarco BechisMarco Bechis is a Chilean-Italian film screenwriter and director. His film Garage Olimpo was screened at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section.-Selected filmography:* Alambrado...
. - Minas GeraisMinas GeraisMinas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
- PotosíPotosíPotosí is a city and the capital of the department of Potosí in Bolivia. It is one of the highest cities in the world by elevation at a nominal . and it was the location of the Spanish colonial mint, now the National Mint of Bolivia...