The Xokó are an

Indigenous people There is no generally accepted definition of Indigenous peoples, although in the 21st century the focus has been on self-identification, cultural difference from other groups in a state, a special relationship with their traditional territ ...

northeastern Brazil The Northeast Region of Brazil ( ) is one of the five official and political regions of the country according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Of Brazil's twenty-six states, it comprises nine: Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, R ...

, whose traditional territory is centered along the lower

São Francisco River The São Francisco River (, ) is a large Rivers of Brazil, river in Brazil. With a length of , it is the longest river that runs entirely in Brazilian territory, and the fourth longest in South America and overall in Brazil (after the Amazon R ...

, primarily in the state of

Sergipe Sergipe (), officially State of Sergipe, is a States of Brazil, state of Brazil. Located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region along the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast of the country, Sergipe is the smallest state in Brazil by geogra ...

, with historical connections to neighboring

Alagoas Alagoas () is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil and is situated in the eastern part of the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region. It borders: Pernambuco (N and NW); Sergipe (S); Bahia (SW); and the Atlantic Ocean (E). Its capital is ...

. The Xokó are among the few remaining native groups in this region.

Territory and population

The Xokó inhabit the Ilha de São Pedro (Island of St. Peter) in the municipality of Porto da Folha, Sergipe, and some surrounding mainland communities. They are thought to be the only Indigenous group inhabiting the state of Sergipe. Their population is estimated at around 340 people, though numbers may vary. The Xokó are closely related to the Kariri-Xocó and Xukuru-Kariri peoples of neighboring Alagoas.

Language

The original Xocó language is considered extinct and today the Xokó speak Portuguese. The language was not clearly classified and is known only from a few words collected in the 20th century. It is unclear whether it was related to the languages of the Kariri-Xocó or Xukuru-Kariri peoples.

History

The Xokó are descendants of various Indigenous groups who survived the colonial period and the

Jesuit missions The phrase Jesuit missions usually refers to a Jesuit missionary enterprise in a particular area, involving a large number of Jesuit priests and brothers, and lasting over a long period of time. List of some Jesuit missions * Circular Mission ...

along the São Francisco River. Over centuries, they endured forced labor, land dispossession, and assimilation pressures by the Portuguese. By the late 20th century, the Xokó had lost much of their land and traditional practices but maintained their communal organization and Indigenous identity. In the 1970s and 1980s, the Xokó led a successful movement to reclaim their ancestral territory on Ilha de São Pedro, resulting in the legal recognition of their land rights.

Culture and religion

The Xokó maintain elements of their traditional culture, including ritual practices, crafts, and festivals that blend Indigenous and Catholic elements. They are known for their annual Toré ritual, a dance and spiritual ceremony that reinforces community bonds and cultural memory.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Xokó Ethnic groups in Brazil Indigenous peoples in Brazil Indigenous peoples of the Amazon