This paper examines the presence of indigenous populations in the city of Belém, Para, in Brazil, focusing on their motivations for coming to the city, their modes of urban sociality, and more generally on indigenous organizational dynamics in face of the public power and Brazilian society. I present statistical data about the indigenous populations in Belém and present some of the problems they face. Emphasizing the construction of indigenous identity in the urban space, I question to what extent place is determinant for ethnic identity construction, given the fact that public policies for indigenous peoples are not extended to urban populations. I conclude that much work needs to be done in formulating policies regarding indigenous populations who live in urban centers, beginning with questions of ethnic recognition.
Indigenous populations; Public polices; Ethnic identity; Sociality; Belém (PA), Brazil
