Guarani Tribe

01-06-2023

1 min read

Prelims: Current Affairs & Events

Overview:

Recently, protests by Guarani tribal people have erupted across Brazil as the country’s Chamber of Deputies approved a new land bill that will restrict the new recognition of ancestral land of indigenous people.

Why in the news?

According to the new law, tribal people can get recognition only for the land they have been occupying since before the constitution of the country came into effect in 1988.

Key facts about the Guarani tribe:

The Guarani were one of the first peoples contacted after Europeans arrived in South America around 500 years ago.
In Brazil, there are today around 51,000 Guarani living in seven states, making them the country's most numerous tribes. Many others live in neighbouring Paraguay, Bolivia, and Argentina.
These people in Brazil are divided into three groups: Kaiowá, Ñandeva and M’byá, of which the largest is the Kaiowá which means ‘forest people’.
They are deeply spiritual people.
Most communities have a prayer house, and a religious leader, whose authority is based on prestige rather than formal power.

Q1) Who are tribes?

Tribes generally refer to social groups or communities of people who share common characteristics, such as culture, language, customs, and often a common ancestry or geographic location. Historically, tribes have played a significant role in human society, particularly among indigenous peoples.

Source: Legislated genocide’: Brazil’s new bill restricting recognition of tribal land sparks massive protests