World Indigenous Games

By Ueslei Marcelino, Reuters
October-November, 2015

An indigenous man from the Rikbaktsa tribe watches a tug-of-war competition at the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples in Palmas, Brazil, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

Ahead of the Summer Olympics in 2016, Brazil is host to a new international event – the World Indigenous Games, with contests including a hockey-like game using a ball of fire.

Competitors from ethnic groups in Brazil, also from as far afield as New Zealand and the Philippines, take each other on in events from tug-of-war and log-carrying, as well as soccer and athletics.

Brazil, home to nearly 900,000 indigenous people, has held a dozen Indigenous Games for its own natives since 1996 and decided to expand the games into an international event.

The inaugural games take place in Palmas, the capital of the northern state of Tocantins, gathering over 2,000 participating indigenous athletes from 30 countries.

Some of the sports contested are unique. They include a type of lacrosse (rokra) using sticks and coconuts, as well as a variety of soccer (xikunahity) using only the head to move the ball.

An indigenous man from the Kanela tribe competes in a spear-throwing competition during the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples in Palmas, Brazil, October 27, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

An indigenous boy from the Mamaind tribe uses a tablet during the Jikunahati competition, a form of soccer played with one’s head, at the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples in Palmas, Brazil, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

Indigenous women from the Kamayura tribe take part in a demonstration of Huka Huka fight at the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples in Palmas, Brazil, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

An indigenous woman from Pataxo tribe poses for photos after participating in a parade of indigenous beauty during the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples in Palmas, Brazil, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

Indigenous women from the Xerente tribe take a picture before a soccer match in the I World Games for Indigenous People in Palmas, Brazil, October 23, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

A indigenous man from the Pataxo tribe enters a bus after arriving to participate in the I World Games for Indigenous People in Palmas, Brazil, October 20, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

An indigenous woman from the Rikbaktsa tribe is seen at the sports arena during the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples in Palmas, Brazil, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

An indigenous man from the Xerente tribe watches a tug-of-war competition at the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples in Palmas, Brazil, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

An indigenous man from the Kuikuru tribe watches a tug-of-war competition at the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples in Palmas, Brazil, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

Indigenous men from the Tabajara tribe talk in front of Sports Arena before the I World Games for Indigenous People in Palmas, Brazil, October 21, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

An indigenous man from the Pataxo tribe watches a competition during the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples in Palmas, Brazil, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

A view of arrow fletching inside the competition area at the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples in Palmas, Brazil, October 25, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

Indigenous men from the Kamayura tribe take part in a demonstration of an indigenous Kamayura game at the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples in Palmas, Brazil, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

Indigenous people compete during a tug-of-war competition at the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples in Palmas, Brazil, October 25, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

A indigenous man from the Tabajara tribe is seen in Tocantins river before the I World Games for Indigenous People in Palmas, Brazil, October 21, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

An indigenous man from Mexico performs a Mexican game known as La Batalla (hockey-like game using a fireball) during the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples in Palmas, Brazil, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

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