The Xakriabá (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʃɐˌkɾi.ɐˈba]) are an indigenous people of Brazil. One of the Gê peoples who spoke the Xakriabá dialect of the Akwe language, they used to live in the Tocantins River area.[4] As of 2010, 9,196 Xakriabá people lived in the state of Minas Gerais.
.jpg) Célia Xakriabá, Xakriabá activist, in traditional dress | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 9,196 (2010)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Brazil ( Minas Gerais)[1] | |
| Languages | |
| Portuguese, formerly Xakriabá[2] | |
| Religion | |
| traditional tribal religion, Roman Catholicism, Protestant Christianity[3] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Gê peoples |
Name
editThe Xakriabá are also known as the Xacriabá, Chakriaba, Chikriaba, or Shacriaba people.[2] They were formerly known as "acroás" and "coroás" in Bahia and "gamelas" in Piauí.[5]
Language
editThe Xakriabá speak Portuguese. The extinct Xakriabá language was an Acua language, belonging to the Ge language family and was one of the Macro-Ge languages.[2]
History
editIn pre-colonial times, Xakriabá did not have a defined territory, but lived in the valley of the Tocantins River, in Goiás and along the São Francisco River. In the early 18th century, Matias Cardoso de Almeida, a pioneer, slaughtered Indians in the region. The Roman Catholic church forced local tribes to build missions. A statue of the saint, St. John of the Indians (in Portuguese): São João dos Índios) appeared at one of the missions, became a patron saint in the region.[6]
In the 18th century, the Xakriabá settled in reservations (aldeias).[4]
1927 marked the first major conflict between encroached ranchers and the Xakriabá. Ranchers forced the Xakriabá to build fences for cattle in the tribes' territory. The Xakriabá resisted by setting fire to the fences, and ranchers responded violently.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b "Xakriabá: Introduction." ISA: Povos Indígenas no Brasil. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ a b c "Xakriabá." Ethnologue. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ ""Xakriabá: Vida cerimonial." ISA: Povos Indígenas no Brasil. (in Portuguese) Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ a b James Stuart Olson (1991). The Indians of Central and South America: An Ethnohistorical Dictionary. Westport, Connecticut, USA: Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 401. ISBN 9780313263873.
- ^ "Quadro Geral dos Povos - Povos Indígenas no Brasil".
- ^ a b ""Xakriabá: História." ISA: Povos Indígenas no Brasil. (in Portuguese) Retrieved 5 August 2012.
Further reading
edit- João Luiz, PenaI; Heller, Leo; Cláudio Santiago, Dias Júnior (2009). "A população Xakriabá, Minas Gerais: aspectos demográficos, políticos, sociais e econômicos" (La población Xakriabá, Minas Gerais: aspectos demográficos, políticos, sociales y económicos / The Xakriabá population in Minas Gerais, Brazil: Demographic, political, social and economical aspects)". Rev. Bras. Estud. Popul. 26 (1): 51–59. doi:10.1590/S0102-30982009000100005.
External links
edit
Media related to Xacriabás at Wikimedia Commons