índios

Índios, from the Portuguese and Spanish term for Indians, is a historical label used to refer to Indigenous peoples of the Americas. The term originated with European explorers who believed they had reached the Indies, and it was widely used in colonial and later contexts. In contemporary discourse, "índios" remains common in some regions but is considered by many scholars and communities to be imprecise or outdated; "povos indígenas" or "indígenas" are increasingly preferred as self-identifying or umbrella terms.

Indigenous peoples comprise hundreds of distinct nations and languages across the Americas. In Brazil, for example, numerous Indigenous groups maintain traditional territories, social structures, and languages alongside modern life. Across the continent, there are diverse cultural practices, cosmologies, and forms of governance, ranging from village-based communities to organized federations. Many groups preserve rich oral traditions, crafts, music, and ecological knowledge tied to their environments.

Historical contact with European powers caused dramatic demographic and social upheavals through disease, conflict, and displacement. In the present day, Indigenous communities continue to seek recognition of land rights, political autonomy, language and cultural preservation, and self-determination. International frameworks, such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, inform national laws and policies in many countries. Ongoing challenges include land demarcation, resource pressures, education, health disparities, and the preservation of traditional knowledge against assimilation pressures.