South America Today

Indigenous Cultures

• European Contact:– Spanish, Portuguese and other Europeans

changed culture and lives of native people– Introduced a new population group; the

Mestizos( a mix of Native American or African and European ancestry)

Maintaining Traditions

• 3 largest groups of indigenous people are the Aymara, Quechua and Guarani

• Aymara– Live in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia– Speak native language– Herd llamas and alpacas– Grow potatoes and quinoa

Maintaining Traditions

• Quechua– Live in the Andes of Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia – Religion is a blend of native beliefs and

Catholicism– Speak native language– Practice native tradtions , like weaving

Maintaining traditions

• Guarani– Live in Paraguay– Speak native language– Art keeps native influence

• Mundurku– Live in Brazil– Farm, hunt, and fish in the rainforest– Sell latex from rubber trees

1.2 Language diversity

• 50 language families

• Spanish and Portuguese are main languages, but also French and Italian

• Creole –developed by combining two languages– Plantation workers did this so they could

communicate

Language

• Indigenous languages continue to thrive, over 500 different languages spoken

• Reasons: Large number of indigenous groups Topography

- rainforest isolate groups - Andes and highlands also kept European

languages from being adopted

Government Recognition

• Many countries have decided to give native languages official status.

– Peru- Spanish and Quechua official languages– Paraguay- Guarani and Spanish

• Government also have allowed outside groups to record and document native languages( National Geographic Enduring Voices)

1.3 Daily Life

• Religion– Religion guides everything : traditions,

festivals, and holidays– Roman Catholicism is main religion

( conversion during the colonial period)– Protestants – small groups Chile, Brazil,

Guianas, Bolivia and Ecuador.– Other religions are mixes of native, African and

Catholic ways

School

• Public education for all people

• Some struggle to receive an education because:– Few rural schools– Shortage of teachers– Children leave school to to help earn money for

their families

Sports

• All over South America people play soccer or Futbol

• Brazil has many leagues and tries to develop players to win the World Cup

Food

• Depending on where you are in South America will influence what is being served

• Chile – seafood• Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina- beef• Peru- llamas and alpacas• Stews, black beans, rice, and vegetables are

common• Most foods are a blend of native, African and

European cuisines