A member of an indigenous people of central Brazil, part of the Gê language family.
From Portuguese 'Chavante,' the exonym (name given by outsiders) for the Xavante people. The term reflects colonial-era naming conventions and Portuguese phonetic adaptations of indigenous Gê languages. Modern usage often defers to the Xavante self-designation.
The Chavante/Xavante people have a fascinating history of resistance—they maintained territorial autonomy and cultural practices far longer than many Brazilian indigenous groups, but their name in English shows how colonialism literally shapes what outsiders call indigenous peoples.
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