Whenever we think of a type of sporting competition, we think of the World Cup, Olympic Games and even one in which our country participates very little, such as the Winter Olympics. However, we never imagined the Indigenous Peoples Games.
Organized by the Indigenous Intertribal Committee, with support from the Ministry of Sports, the Indigenous Peoples Games have the following motto: “The important thing is not to compete, but to celebrate”. The proposal is recent, as the first edition of the games took place in 1996, and aims to integrate different tribes, as well as the rescue and celebration of these traditional cultures. The 2003 edition of the Games, for example, had the participation of sixty ethnic groups, including the Kaiowá, Guarani, Bororo, Pataxó and Yanomami. The last edition took place in 2009 and was the tenth time the tournament was held. The Games are held annually, with the exception of the interval in 1997, 1998, 2006 and 2008 when there were no editions.
It is interesting to note that the Games venues are always located far from large cities, contrary to logic of sports tournaments, but extremely coherent with the indigenous proposal: in 1996 it was in Goiânia (GO); in 1999 in Guaía (PR); in 2000 in Marabá (PA); in 2001 in Pantanal (MS); in 2002 in Marapanim (PA); in 2003 in Palmas (TO); in 2004 in Porto Seguro (BA); in 2005 in Fortaleza (CE); in 2007 in Olinda (PE); in 2009 in Paragominas (PA).
The modalities played vary a little between the tournaments, but basically they are as follows:
- Bow and arrow: Weapon widely used for hunting, rituals and for war. In most tribes the bow is made of palm tree stem (tucum), but there are some exceptions: the aratazeiro, the pau-ferro, the yellow-ipê and the aruerinha can be used. The size of the bow varies according to the use to be made of the bow and the custom of the tribe. The arrow is made of bamboo, with variations in the tips. In the first edition of the games, the organization provided equipment for all participants, a fact that prevented good performance in this competition. However, in other editions of the Games, the Indians were allowed to use their own equipment. Each delegation can register two different participants, each entitled to three shots. The target is located at a distance of 30 meters and is marked by the design of a fish;
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- Tug of war: It is played as a team, whose objective is to measure the physical strength of the participants. Winning the tug of war means having the Indians better prepared for the physical confrontation, and that is why it is one of the most anticipated events of the Games. Each tribe can enter two teams (one male and one female), with ten participants each;
- Canoeing: The canoe is the means of transport most traditionally used by indigenous tribes, but the type of canoe and the material used for its manufacture varies considerably. Therefore, the canoe made by the Rikbatsa (navigable by all tribes) was chosen as the official model of the dispute. Each delegation must send two athletes;
- race with log: The logs, made of buriti, and weighing around 100 kg, must be carried by the team when traveling a predetermined distance. For the competition, each team must register ten participants;
- Xikunahity: This sport is also known as head football. Instead of the kick, the ball is pushed with the participants' heads. The game is played by teams of ten athletes on a field with dimensions close to that of football.
Other competitions closer to our knowledge are also played at the Indigenous Peoples Games, such as athletics (100 meters dash) and soccer.
By Paula Rondinelli
Brazil School Collaborator
Graduated in Physical Education from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Master in Motricity Sciences from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Doctoral Student in Integration of Latin America at the University of São Paulo - USP
PE - Brazil School
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
RONDINELLI, Paula. "Games of Indigenous Peoples"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/educacao-fisica/jogos-dos-povos-indigenas.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
