The Guarani Language Day celebrates the diversity and the culture of the Guarani in Paraguay. Now, in it’s fourth year, the Paraguayan government uses this day to promote the language in schools, government, and everyday aspects of Paraguayan life. Written by TeleSUR, a Latin American news network, this network places indigenous Latin Americans as the central point of this article. Unlike other articles, this article places the Guarani as hardworking humble people. It portrays them as victims of mistreatment by the government as well. This holiday is celebrated yearly on August 25.
GUARANI STUDENTS HOLD UP THEIR SCHOOL WORK THAT IS WRITTEN IN GUARANI. IN 2010, GUARANI WAS ADDED AS ANOTHER OFFICIAL LANGUAGE FOR THE COUNTRY OF PARAGUAY.
The Guarani share a common struggle with other native Latin American groups in Latin America. They fight to preserve not only their culture, but they also fight to literally stay alive. Recently, a lot of land has been expropriated for the Guarani and other indigenous groups of Latin America. Recently, the Paraguayan government has increased it’s legal protection for the Guarani and other indigenous groups after international scrutiny. Guarani has become an official language also taught in most schools. According to TeleSur, 90% of all adults can speak Guarani.
This article reflects a lot of class themes we will be covering. One central theme is the coexistence between European Americans and native people of the Americas. This is an example of a culture, people, and language that survived despite conquest and subjugation by colonizers. For our class, I think it is important to commemorate events such as these that celebrate a culture and people who are still here today. I think as historians, it is our duty to acknowledge and support events that preserve pre-Columbian Latin American culture and people.
