ABSTRACT
To discuss the importance of incorporating the Indians in the History of Brazil as protagonists, I present a reflection on some historiographical changes resulting from such incorporation, pointing out the academic, social and political relevance of this practice. The inclusion of the Indigenous agency in our history has provided new interpretations on various themes. This article addresses some of them, focusing primarily on my research on the Indians in Rio de Janeiro, in a comparative perspective with other regions of Brazil. Considering that the Indian history is articulated with colonial and national histories, the text emphasizes the importance of increasing dialogues among specialists for more complex understandings of historical processes. From the political and social point of view, these new historical interpretations have an essential role of deconstructing prejudiced and discriminatory ideas against the Indians.
Keywords:
indigenous protagonism; historiography; indigenous History