Pataxós Indians in Bahia: Preserving Heritage and Nature

Published on December 30, 2012 · Updated on March 29, 2025

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The Pataxós Indians are one of the most traditional indigenous peoples of Bahia and have occupied the Discovery Coast region, which stretches from Belmonte to Prado, for centuries.

Despite the effects of colonisation and the expansion of tourism, the Pataxós have kept their traditions alive, resisting through cultural preservation, the fight for land demarcation and the development of ethno-tourism, such as in the Jaqueira Reserve.

Reserva Pataxó-Porto-do-Boi — Pataxós Indians

As well as protecting their identity, they also play a vital role in the conservation of the Atlantic Rainforest, using sustainable practices to ensure their survival and reaffirm their ancestral connection with nature.

Povos Indígenas na Bahia — Indigenous peoples in Bahia

The presence of the Pataxós Indians on the Bahian coast

The Pataxós Indians have been concentrated in villages for at least 150 years, occupying the coast of Bahia on the so-called Discovery Coast.

This region stretches from Belmonte and Santa Cruz de Cabrália in the north, through Porto Seguro and Monte Pascoal to Prado in the south.

Video about the Pataxós Indians of Bahia

Reserva Pataxó Porto do Boi05:58

Indios Pataxó - Documentário25:16

Indio Pataxó - O dia do indio12:25

Indios Kuikuro06:37

Effects of acculturation and territorial loss

In the 20th century, the Pataxós were subjected to an intense process of acculturation, being placed on the margins of society. This resulted in the invasion of their territories and the almost total loss of their culture, aggravated by the expansion of large cattle ranches.

The other side of Porto Seguro

Porto Seguro is widely known for its mass tourism, with Carnival, Axé and crowded excursions, but few know its other side: a place where history, culture and identity are being recovered.

Before the arrival of the Portuguese, the southern region of Bahia was inhabited by various indigenous peoples, such as the Pataxós, Maxacalis and Botocudos. Over the centuries, however, these ethnic groups were virtually decimated by the advance of commercial tourism.

The resistance of the Pataxó Indians and the Jaqueira reserve

Despite the belief that the Pataxó ethnic group had disappeared, one indigenous group has worked tirelessly to prove otherwise. The Jaqueira Reserve in southern Bahia is one of the last remnants of the region’s Atlantic Forest, covering 825 hectares (the equivalent of 82 football pitches).

Indios Pataxós na Reserva da Jaqueira — Pataxós Indians in the Jaqueira Reserve

The history of the reserve is marked by the struggle of the Pataxós for land demarcation, especially in the Indigenous land of Coroa Vermelha, near Porto Seguro.

mapa das aldeias pataxós — Map of Pataxós villages in Bahia

The struggle for land and the creation of the reserve

In 1997, after years of land conflicts, the Pataxós managed to reclaim part of their territory.

It was at this time that Nitinawã Pataxó, together with her sisters and mother, made a radical decision: to leave urban life and recover the traditional customs of their people.

They began living in the Jaqueira Reserve in huts (kijemes), dressing like their ancestors and practising their sacred rituals. This movement inspired other indigenous people to return to their origins.

Ethnotourism as a sustainable alternative

To ensure their survival without overexploiting the Atlantic Forest, the Pataxós decided to invest in ethnotourism, combining cultural and environmental tourism.

Visitors can

Walk along ecological trails guided by the indigenous people themselves
Learn about the use of medicinal plants
Attend lectures on Pataxó culture
Experience the Ritual of Integration with the White Man
Try fish baked in a patioba leaf, a typical ethnic delicacy.

Sustainability and Piaçava management

In addition to ethno-tourism, the Pataxós have adopted sustainable practices such as the management of piaçava, a native palm tree whose fibre is used to make brooms.

In partnership with the BioAtlântico Institute, a survey of the reserve’s vegetation has identified more than 20,000 piassava trees. A sustainable management plan was then implemented to ensure extraction without environmental degradation.

The Pataxó Ecotourism Association, created in 1998, has been instrumental in organising these activities, allowing the indigenous people to maintain their autonomy and culture, while guaranteeing their economic survival.

Conclusion

The Jaqueira Reserve proves that it is possible to revive ancestral traditions while promoting sustainable and educational tourism. If it weren’t for the resistance of the Pataxós, their culture would be condemned to oblivion.

A visit to the reserve is not just a tourist experience, but a reunion with Brazil’s roots, an opportunity to look beyond conventional tourism and discover the true richness of the Discovery Coast.

Written by Willy Sievert

Editor of Bahia.ws since its founding in 2009. Based in Salvador, he travels frequently across the Northeast and all of Brazil to keep the guides up to date. Learn more about Willy Sievert →