Indigenous Peoples Day | |
---|---|
Official name | Indigenous People's Day Dia dos Povos Indígenas |
Observed by | Native Brazilians |
Celebrations | festivities centered in Indigenous reservations |
Date | April 19 |
Next time | 19 April 2025 |
Frequency | annual |
Related to | Indigenous 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]
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.