The Hagaka is one of the most important traditions of the Kalapalo people, held in the Xingu Indigenous Territory in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil.
More than a celebration, it is a time for passing down knowledge, strengthening community ties, and reaffirming cultural identity.
During the gathering, different generations share knowledge related to hunting, songs, dances, and rituals that have been part of Kalapalo life for centuries.
The Xingu Indigenous Territory is home to one of the largest concentrations of Indigenous peoples in Brazil, bringing together diverse ethnic groups that, despite having their own languages and histories, maintain long-standing relationships based on cooperation, mutual respect, and cultural exchange.
The preservation of this territory is essential to the continuity of their ways of life, as it sustains their food systems, traditional knowledge, spiritual practices, and social organization.
Among the peoples of the Upper Xingu are the Kalapalo and the Yawalapíti, who share a long history of cultural and family ties. Marriages between the two peoples, political alliances, and participation in one another's traditional ceremonies have long been part of the region's social fabric.
The presence of the Yawalapíti during the Hagaka reinforces these historic connections and reflects how the major ceremonies of the Xingu also serve as gatherings where different Indigenous peoples come together while preserving their distinct identities.
For the Kalapalo, the Hagaka is a time to honor warriors, hunters, and the individuals responsible for passing traditional knowledge on to younger generations. Through rituals, songs, body painting, and collective practices, the celebration reaffirms the relationship between the people, the forest, and their ancestors, keeping alive a cultural heritage that has been built and renewed over countless generations.
Held in the heart of the Upper Xingu, the Hagaka demonstrates that the strength of these traditions is inseparable from the protection of Indigenous territory. It is within this land that Indigenous peoples preserve their history, culture, and autonomy, ensuring that their knowledge continues to be shared and carried forward by future generations.
This project was carried out in partnership with the Aritana Institute. Learn more at: institutoaritana.org