Indigenismo
Encyclopedia
Indigenismo is a Latin America
n idea and movement pressing for a greater social and political role for the Indigenous peoples of the Americas
, and the revindication of indigenous rights and including compensation for past wrongdoings of the colonial and republican states. Its adherents draw a sharp distinction between the "indigenistas" and people of Europe
an ancestry, who have dominated the indigenista majorities since the 16th-century Spanish
and Portuguese
conquest. The movement became influential in Mexico
with the revolution of 1910–20
; it was particularly strong during the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas
(1934–40), who made serious efforts to reconstitute the country in accordance with its indigenous heritage. In Peru
it is associated with the APRA
movement although APRA has currently little support among the indigenous communities of the Andes
.
Indigenismo is often contrasted to Hispanismo, the idea and associated movement that holds that only Spanish culture can bring unity in the Spanish American countries since indigenous languages and cultures varies considerable from one country to another or even within a country making it difficult to construct a collective project such as nation building.
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n idea and movement pressing for a greater social and political role for the Indigenous peoples of the Americas
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, and the revindication of indigenous rights and including compensation for past wrongdoings of the colonial and republican states. Its adherents draw a sharp distinction between the "indigenistas" and people of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an ancestry, who have dominated the indigenista majorities since the 16th-century Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
conquest. The movement became influential in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
with the revolution of 1910–20
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
; it was particularly strong during the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas del Río was President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940.-Early life:Lázaro Cárdenas was born on May 21, 1895 in a lower-middle class family in the village of Jiquilpan, Michoacán. He supported his family from age 16 after the death of his father...
(1934–40), who made serious efforts to reconstitute the country in accordance with its indigenous heritage. In Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
it is associated with the APRA
APRA
APRA or Apra may refer to:* American Popular Revolutionary Alliance , a Peruvian political party* Australasian Performing Right Association, a copyright collecting society...
movement although APRA has currently little support among the indigenous communities of the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
.
Indigenismo is often contrasted to Hispanismo, the idea and associated movement that holds that only Spanish culture can bring unity in the Spanish American countries since indigenous languages and cultures varies considerable from one country to another or even within a country making it difficult to construct a collective project such as nation building.