Indigenous heritage lives on as Rio turns 458 years old
On March 1, 1565, Portuguese Captain Estácio de Sá founded the city of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro at the foot of Sugarloaf mountain—at the time little more than a military base aimed at ensuring control of the territory.The French, who had been occupying areas around Guanabara Bay since 1555, clashed with different indigenous groups who had inhabited the region for four thousand years. Conflicts came to an end in the Battle of Uruçumirim, in 1567: The alliance between the Portuguese and the Temiminós defeated the French and their allies, the Tamoios (or Tupinambás).Today, 458 years after the foundation of Rio, the memories of the Portuguese victory and occupation are conspicuous throughout the city’s landscape. However, even though the indigenous played the main role in these even...