Cultura Indigena


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Cultura Indigena


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Cultura Indigena


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Cultura Indigena


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CULTURA INDÍGENA

Os índios do Brasil não formam um só povo. São muitos povos diferentes de nós e entre si. Possuem hábitos, costumes e línguas próprias e, por isso, é errado pensar que todos os índios vivem da mesma maneira.

Quando os portugueses chegaram ao Brasil, aqui viviam cerca de 5 milhões de índios. As doenças trazidas pelos europeus e as constantes lutas entre índios e brancos fizeram com que muitos grupos desaparecessem.

Atualmente existem no Brasil aproximadamente 240 mil índios, distribuídos em cerca de 180 grupos diferentes.

Encontram-se em todo o território brasileiro, com exceção apenas do Distrito Federal e dos Estados do Piauí e Rio Grande do Norte.¶

Existem grupos indígenas que, por estarem em contato permanente com a nossa sociedade, adotaram muitos hábitos e costumes da nossa cultura, falam o português, usam produtos industrializados mas nem por isso deixam de ser índios. Existem ainda grupos que mantêm contatos apenas ocasionais com os brancos e, finalmente, grupos que não têm qualquer contato com a sociedade, desconhecendo nossos costumes e língua.

Como exemplo de cultura indígena, convém ressaltar a dos Yanomami, considerados um dos grupos indígenas mais primitivos da América do Sul.

Os Yanomami têm como território tradicional extensa área da floresta tropical no Brasil e na Venezuela. Possuem uma população em torno de 25.000 índios. No Brasil existem cerca de 10.000 Yanomami situados nos Estados do Amazonas e de Roraima. Falam a língua Yanomami e mantêm ainda vivos os seus usos, costumes e tradições.

Vivem em grandes casas comunais. A maloca consiste numa moradia redonda, com topo cônico, com uma praça aberta ao centro. Várias famílias vivem sob o teto circular comum, sem paredes dividindo os espaços ocupados. O número de moradores varia entre trinta e cem pessoas.

Desde a década de 70, com a construção da estrada Perimetral Norte cortando seu território, a operação de mineradores e, hoje, a presença de milhares de garimpeiros têm resultado na destruição da floresta e trazido muitas doenças para os Yanomami, cuja população está sob séria ameaça de desaparecimento.

CENTRO DE DOCUMENTAÇÃO E INFORMAÇÃO - CEDOC FUNDAÇÃO NACIONAL DO INDIO - FUNAI

 

 

INDIAN CULTURE

 

The Indians from Brazil do not constitute one sole people. They are very different people from us and among themselves. They have characteristic habits, customs and languages and thus it is wrong to think that all Indians live in the same way.

When the Portuguese arrived in Brazil there were here nearly 5 million Indians. The diseases brought by Europeans and the constant fights between Indians and white men made many groups disappear.

There are now approximately 240 thousand Indians in Brazil, distributed in around 180 different groups. They are found in the whole Brazilian territory, except in the Federal District and in the States of Piaui and Rio Grande do Norte.

There are Indians groups that—due to their permanent contact with our society—have adopted many habits and customs of our culture, speak Portuguese, use industrialized products, but even so they are still Indians. There are also groups that keep only occasional contacts with white men and, finally, groups that do not have any contact with the society and ignore our customs and language.

As an example of Indian culture, it is convenient to emphasize the Yanomami's which are one of the most primitive Indian groups in South America.

The Yanomami have got as traditional territory, a large area of the rain forest in Brazil and Venezuela. They have a population of around 25,000 Indians. In Brazil there are about 10,000 Yanomami situated in the States of Amazonas and Roraima. They speak the Yanomami language and keep still alive their usages, customs and traditions. They live in big communal houses. The "maloca" {a large hut housing more than one Indian family) consists in a round dwelling, with a conic top and an open square in the center. Several families live under the common to all round roof, without wall to divide the occupied spaces. The number of dwellers varies between thirty and one hundred persons.

Since the 70's—with the construction of the "Perimetral Norte" road crossing their territory—the miner's operation and nowadays the presence of thousands of prospectors have been resulting in the destruction of the forest and bringing many diseases to the Yanomami whose population is under serious threat of extinction.

DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION CENTRE- CEDOC NATIONAL INDIAN FOUNDATION - FUNAI

 



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ARMAS

As armas representam uma das referências das sociedades indígenas no Brasil. Na América do Sul, o interesse especial por armas indígenas, manifestado por viajantes, resultou em coleções expressivas de arcos, flechas e bordunas. Boa parte dessas coleções atualmente catalogadas em nossos museus, forma um acervo variado e representativo desses povos.

A diversidade dessas armas é objeto de inspiração para que os selos postais cumpram, mais uma vez, a missão de divulgar a cultura indigena por ocasião das comemorações do Dia do lndio (19 de abril).

Entre os grupos genéricos classificados por Berta Ribeiro, autora do Dicionário do Artesanato Indigena, destacam-se as armas de arremesso complexas, as armas de arremesso simples e as armas contundentes de choque. As primeiras são arremessadas por meio de um engenho - arco ou propulsor - combinadas com um projétil, a flecha ou o dardo, incluindo, também, o bodoque.

As armas de arremesso sim pies têm a função per furadora, cuja ponta aguçada é encabada ou faz parte integrante de uma vara mais longa, arremessada à mão. lnclui a boleadeira, arma de projeção direta.

As armas contundentes de choque são armas de mão, defensivas, predominantemente contundentes, providas de maior peso na porção basal e, even tualmente, de ponteira perfuratriz. lnclui-se nessa clas sificação a borduna.

As armas desses três grupos são utilizadas em ati vidades de subsistência e práticas de combate.

Dois grupos de armas encerram essa classificação:

as armas de sopro com setas ervadas são de caráter ofensivo e formadas de tubo oco, no qual se intro duzem setas envenenadas com curare, impelidas pelo sopro contra o alvo e transportadas em carcás. São usadas nas atividades de caça a pássaros e pequenos animais arborícolas. 0 último grupo de armas se refere aos apetrechos de defesa. Assim denominadas, essas peças são artificios defensivos, compreendendo os anteparos destinados a defender o corpo ou ocultá-lo, bem como os estrepes para defender a aldeia. Essas armas são utilizadas na defesa pessoal e coletiva.

COORDENAÇÃO GERAL DE COMUNICAÇÃO SOCIAL FUNAI - FUNDAÇÃO NACIONAL DO INDIO

 


INDIAN CULTURE: WEAPONS

Weapons are one of the references of Indian societies in Brazil. In South America, tourists' special interest for Indian weapons has resulted in expressive collections of bows, arrows and wooden clubs. Most of these collections, currently cataloged in our museums, are part of the diversified and representative assets of these peoples.

This diversity is a source of inspiration for stamps in this mission of divulging the Indian culture during the celebration of Indian's Day (April 19).

Among generic groups, classified by Berta Ribeiro, who wrote "Dicionário do Artesanato Indigena" (Dictionary of Indian Handcraft) we could pull out complex missile weapons, simples missile weapons and bruising shock weapons. The first ones made up of a device - a bow or a propeller - combined with a missile, such as an arrow or a dart. Here we could include slingshots.

Simple missile weapons are piercing ones. Maybe a stick or a rod which is hurled. They include hurl balls, a direct projection weapon.

Bruising shock weapons are handled defensively. They are basically heavy and, eventually, have a piercing tip. The wooden clubs is under this classification.

Weapons from these three groups are used in sustenance activities and combat practices.

Two groups of weapons conclude this classification: blowing weapons with poisonous darts, which are offensive weapons made up of a hollow tube, through which Indians blow darts poisoned with "curare" against a target. They are transported in quivers and used in hunting for birds and small animals, which live on trees. The last group of weapons refer to defense equipment. Defensive devices include shields to defend or hide the Indians' body, along with stakes to defend their settlements. The are used in personal and collective defense.

        GENERAL COORDINATION FOR SOCIAL COMMUNICATION FUNAI - NATIONAL FUNDATION FOR INDIANS' PROTECTION


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 Copyright 2012 notice: Please note that most material on this site is copyrighted, if pieces and bits of this site is found in other locations without proper authorization there are happy lawyers that would be glad to contact you. If you would like to use some pictures, contents of this site, please contact author first
For problems or questions and advertising regarding this Web site contact email vivabrazil.
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Home | Brazilian Regions | This is Brazil | What is new | Search Help | Contact Information

 Copyright 2012 notice: Please note that most material on this site is copyrighted, if pieces and bits of this site is found in other locations without proper authorization there are happy lawyers that would be glad to contact you. If you would like to use some pictures, contents of this site, please contact author first
For problems or questions and advertising regarding this Web site contact email vivabrazil.
Last updated: 12/22/11.


Home | Brazilian Regions | This is Brazil | What is new | Search Help | Contact Information

 Copyright 2012 notice: Please note that most material on this site is copyrighted, if pieces and bits of this site is found in other locations without proper authorization there are happy lawyers that would be glad to contact you. If you would like to use some pictures, contents of this site, please contact author first
For problems or questions and advertising regarding this Web site contact email vivabrazil.
Last updated: 12/26/11.