How is culture in Latin America influenced by indigenous cultures?

The question “How is culture in Latin America influenced by indigenous cultures?” does not have a straightforward answer. After all, indigenous groups were the first people to populate the Americas, and even though their population has declined dramatically over the centuries, the legacy and plurality of indigenous culture persists in Latin America to this day, with a great deal of struggle and perseverance.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “indigenous” means:

1. “relating to, or individual belonging to, one of the peoples who already inhabited the Americas in a period prior to their colonisation by Europeans.”
2. “relating to, or indigenous population of, a country, or who settled in it prior to a colonising process.”

According to a report released by Cepal in 2014, around 45 million indigenous people live in Latin America, corresponding to 8.3% of the population. According to ECLAC, of these 45 million indigenous people, 17 million live in Mexico and 7 million in Peru. However, the countries with the highest proportion of indigenous population are Bolivia (62.2%), Guatemala (41%), Peru (24.0%) and Mexico (15.1%).

Brazil has the largest number of indigenous communities (305), followed by Colombia (102), Peru (85), Mexico (78), and Bolivia (39). Some of these peoples live in voluntary isolation, and the study also notes that around 70 tribes are at risk of disappearance, either physical or cultural.

The cultural legacy of Brazil’s indigenous people has a direct influence on how the cultural identity of the Brazilian people is formed. Habits such as walking barefoot, drinking and eating açaí, sleeping in hammocks, and fishing all come from indigenous culture.

Language also has a strong indigenous influence. Some fruits – such as “cupuaçu”, “cacau” (cocoa), and “goiaba” (guava) – are given their names by native people, as are certain animals, utensils, neighbourhoods, streets, and cities. Check out some examples below:

• Samambaia: meaning “braided rope”, and referring to the roots of the plant;
• Ubatuba: meaning “place where there is a lot of reed for arrows”;
• Piracicaba: meaning “place where the fish arrive”;
• Jacaré (alligator): from the tupi-guarani jaeça-caré, meaning “the one who looks from the side”;
• Cuia: from the Tupi term ku’ya, it is a container for storing food.

In Mexico, meanwhile, traditional indigenous farming methods are being revived in order to produce more food and lessen the damage caused by the modern agricultural system.

Seed banking is an ancient practice that creates a “food forest” ,with techniques that preserve moisture and enrich the soil, preventing the spread of weeds and pests.

Mexican cuisine has also inherited many habits and customs from indigenous culture, mixed with Spanish culture. Typical dishes such as Tortilla (the natives’ main food), Burrito, Nacho, Mixiote, Chilli and other foods primarily composed of corn, beans and chilli are all of pre-Columbian origin.

Bolivia is the Latin American country with the greatest indigenous influence. Since 2009, the country’s constitution has acknowledged indigenous customs and processes on an equal status with customs already present in modern society.

The famous “Bolivian flutes” and wind instruments are of indigenous descent, and the country’s folklore and carnivals have a direct connection to the legends and celebrations performed by native Bolivians. Although the main spoken language is Spanish, the indigenous languages of Aimara and Quíchua are commonly used, and another 34 indigenous languages are officially recognized.

One of the main characteristics of Latin America is its diversity of cultures, peoples, customs, and ethnicities. This plurality of beings and places is what makes the continent so unique and extraordinary.

Indigenous customs are present in the cuisine, in the dances and festivities, in the handicrafts and artefacts, in the music, and in the cultural and social manifestations of everyday life. However, native Latin Americans are still frequently the victims of social exclusion, violence, and hardship.

According to the “Indigenous Latin America in the 21st Century” report published in 2016 by the World Bank, one in four indigenous Latin Americans live in poverty. While indigenous people represent about 8% of the region’s total population, they account for 14% of residents living in poverty.

Even as society progresses, natives still tend to face a struggle for basic rights, and for the participation of indigenous organisations in the social, cultural and political realities of their respective countries.

Now that you know how culture in Latin America is influenced by indigenous cultures, you may be wondering how you can make a difference for this often-excluded population.

Representativeness is fundamental for indigenous people to exercise their role as Latin American citizens. Therefore, advertising campaigns and other content that gives voice to one or more indigenous peoples are extremely welcome.

In addition, companies that do business in Latin America can help with projects that support this population, or even by starting their own campaigns to support local indigenous communities.

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