Indigenous Peoples Day (Brazil)

Indigenous Peoples Day
Celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day in Manga, Amapá (2017)
Official nameIndigenous People's Day
Dia dos Povos Indígenas
Observed byNative Brazilians
Celebrationsfestivities centered in Indigenous reservations
DateApril 19
Next time19 April 2025 (2025-04-19)
Frequencyannual
Related toIndigenous people of Brazil

In Brazil, Indigenous Peoples Day (Portuguese: Dia dos Povos Indígenas), observed annually on April 19, recognizes and honours the indigenous peoples of Brazil. The date was created by President Getúlio Vargas by a decree in 1943, and recalls the day (April 19) in 1940, in which several indigenous leaderships of the Americas decided to attend the First Inter-American Indian Congress, held in Mexico.[1] The observance name was changed from "Indian Day" (Portuguese: Dia do Índio) in 2022.[2]

Map of indigenous reserves in Brazil.

Nowadays most part of the cities does not celebrate the date, however it is very common for schoolchildren across Brazil to dress up like Natives and visit Museums to learn more about the first Brazilians.[3] It is common to see celebrations in states with a relatively large indigenous population, such as Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Goiás, Rondônia and Amazonas.

  1. ^ "Native Brazilians". Archived from the original on 2013-01-25. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
  2. ^ "Dia dos Povos Indígenas, em 19 de abril, substitui Dia do Índio após derrubada de veto". Senado Federal do Brasil. 2022-07-11.
  3. ^ "Indian Day in Brazil Reflects Deep Rift Between Cultures (Published 1989)". The New York Times. 22 April 1989. Archived from the original on 2021-11-28.