Indians in Brazil

Historians argue that prior to the arrival of Europeans in America there were approximately 100 million Indians in the country, except in the Brazilian territory, the number reached approximately 5 million speakers. In Brazil the Indians were divided among tribes, according to the language spoken: Tupi-Guarani (the coastal region), macro-Ge or tapuias (the Planalto Central), Arawak (Amazon) and Caribbean (Amazon).

Today, it is estimated that only 400 thousand Indians occupy the Brazilian territory, especially on Indian reservations that are protected by the government. Yet there are some 200 ethnic groups and 170 languages.

Although the vast majority that no longer lives as before the arrival of the Portuguese, this is due to contact with the white man who made many tribes lost their customs and cultural identity as well.

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