World Indigenous Games in Palmas, Brazil
Organizers billed the nine-day-long event as a sort of indigenous Olympics. But for many of the participants from some 20 countries, the sports themselves appear to be taking a back seat to what they say really matters — cross-cultural sharing and learning.
- Indigenous men from the Xerente tribe watch the competition during the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples on October 27, 2015 in Palmas, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
- Brazilian Indians talk on the river bank during the first World Indigenous Games on October 25, 2015 in Palmas, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
- A Brazilian indigenous native practices canoeing during the first World Indigenous Games on October 25, 2015 in Palmas, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
- A Brazilian Indian Bororo attends a competition at the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples on October 26, 2015 in Palmas, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
- An indigenous man from the Kanela tribe competes in a spear-throwing competition during the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples on October 27, 2015 in Palmas, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
- An indigenous man from the Kanela tribe competes in a spear-throwing competition during the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples on October 27, 2015 in Palmas, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
- Indigenous people from several tribes are pictured at the sports arena during the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples on October 27, 2015 in Palmas, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
- Brazilian Indians native practices canoeing during the first World Indigenous Games on October 25, 2015 in Palmas, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
- Brazilian indigenous people attend the competitions during the first World Indigenous Games in Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil on October 25, 2015, Brazil. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images)
- In this photo taken Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, Brazilian indigenous prepare for a indigenous beauty parade during World Indigenous Games, in Palmas, Brazil. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
- A participant from the United States takes part in the bow and arrow competition at the World Indigenous Games, in Palmas, Brazil, Monday, Oct. 26, 2015. The event, which comes one year after Brazil played host to soccers World Cup and ahead of next years Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, kicked off on Friday. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
- In this Oct. 24, 2015 photo, indigenous men take photos of a Pataxo indigenous woman from Brazil during a parade of indigenous beauty at the World Indigenous Games in Palmas, Brazil. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
- In this photo taken Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, Brazilians prepare for a indigenous beauty parade during World Indigenous Games, in Palmas, Brazil. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
- In this photo taken Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015 a Brazilian woman from the Erikbaktsa ethnic group takes part in the parade of indigenous beauty at the World Indigenous Games, in Palmas, Brazil. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
- In this photo taken Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015 a Brazilian woman from the Manoki ethnic group takes part in the parade of indigenous beauty at the World Indigenous Games, in Palmas, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
- Maori from New Zealand take part in the parade of indigenous beauty at World Indigenous Games, in Palmas, Brazil, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
- Indigenous female players from Peru dance before their soccer game with Canada at the World Indigenous Games in Palmas, Brazil, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
- Brazilian Indians compete in the 100 meter race during the World Indigenous Games, in Palmas, Brazil, Monday, Oct. 26, 2015. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
- Brazilian Pataxos Indians with their bodies painted, hold a protest against the proposed amendment to the Brazilian constitution that would change the rules of demarcation of indigenous lands, during the World Indigenous Games, in Palmas, Brazil, Monday, Oct. 26, 2015. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
- A participant from Philippines takes part in the bow and arrow competition at the World Indigenous Games, in Palmas, Brazil, Monday, Oct. 26, 2015. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
- Brazilians carry posters written in Portuguese “SOS Pec 215 No,” left, “Indigenous Peoples are not Silent”, center, at the World Indigenous Games, in Palmas, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
- A New Zealand Maori takes part in the bow and arrow competition, at the World Indigenous Games, in Palmas, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
- Brazilian indigenous children play during the first World Indigenous Games on October 25, 2015 in Palmas, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
- A Brazilian indigenous native participates in the archery competition of the first World Indigenous Games on October 25, 2015 in Palmas, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
- Mauri indigenous native from New Zealand participate in the tug-of-war competition of the first World Indigenous Games on October 25, 2015 in Palmas, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
- A Brazilian indigenous native practices canoeing during the first World Indigenous Games on October 25, 2015 in Palmas, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
- Brazilian Indians native practices canoeing during the first World Indigenous Games on October 25, 2015 in Palmas, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
- An indigenous man from the Xerente tribe competes in a relay race carrying a tree trunk during the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples on October 27, 2015 in Palmas, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
- An indigenous man from the Matis tribe demonstrates the use of a blowpipe during the first World Games for Indigenous Peoples on October 27, 2015 in Palmas, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)