Members of the Pataxó tribe, an indigenous people from northeastern Brazil, carried the Rio 2016 Olympic Torch in the towns of Itamaraju, Santa Cruz Cabrália and Porto Seguro on Thursday (19 May). Fittingly, as the Olympic flame is a symbol of peace and unity, the torch relay is celebrating Brazil’s diversity and seeking to include the nation's many different ethnicities in the Games.

The three towns are along the 'Coast of Discovery' in the state of Bahia. This was where the Portuguese explorers first arrived in 1500 and made initial contact with the natives. In Itamaraju, the torch was welcomed by various members of the Pataxó in a ceremony that included a prayer for the protection of the Olympic flame.

“We came to pray for the protection of the Olympic flame, which came here to unite the people,” said chief Adilson Patiguri. 

The Pataxó tribe say a prayer for the protection of the Olympic flame (Photo: Rio 2016/Marcos de Paula)

The Pataxó are one of about 200 different indigenous groups in Brazil, whose total population reaches 800,000 people. Their participation reinforced the importance of respecting and preserving these indigenous cultures. Residents of the three towns lined the streets to cheer as the torchbearers carried the Olympic flame.

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Carrying the torch in Arraial D'Ajuda, just ouside of Porto Seguro, Itaguari Brás Ferreira said of his participation: “To be here, for me, is about giving visibility to my people. It is a proud moment and a huge honour to be able to participate in this act of unity.” The 24-year-old was one of the faces of the 2015 World Indigenous Games in Tocantins, Brazil, where he won the javelin event.

Another accomplished javelin-thrower, two-time World Indigenous Games champion Raoni Vieira, also carried the torch in Porto Seguro. He works in the preservation of indigenous culture and has travelled the world to teach about Pataxó culture.

In respect of the indigenous tradition, many of the Pataxó torchbearers decided not to wear the official relay uniform in favour of their native dress, which consists of grass skirts, head-dresses, necklaces and body paint. "For us (wearing traditional dress) is about recognising the indigenous peoples of Brazil. And we, from the Pataxó people, are very honoured by this show of respect," Vieira said.

Javelin champion Itaguari Brás Ferreira said carrying the torch was a 'huge honour' (Photo: Rio 2016/Marcos de Paula)

Lucena Maria Ferreira dos Santos, who carried the torch in Santa Cruz Cabrália, uses new innovations to help her people. Dedicated to bridging the gap between their traditional way of life and modernity, she is introducing internet resources to her community’s fishing practices. “I have fought to make my people stronger, I am here for them,” she said.

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Dos Santos carries the torch on Thursday evening (Photo: Rio 2016/Andre Mourao)

In Porto Seguro, young torchbearer Breno dos Santos Ferreira, also of the Pataxó, was there to represent children and young people from Brazil and all over the world. He is the first of six kids to carry the Olympic torch as part of a special partnership between Rio 2016 and the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). The 15-year-old is a talented sportsman, playing football and a various traditional Pataxó sports including running in the maraca relay and indigenous archery.

He takes part in a UNICEF-partnered project called Territory of Protection which serves 200 young people from Aldeia Barra and works to protect vulnerable children and young people using culture and sport.

Breno was the first of six Brazilian kids to carry the torch as part of a UNICEF-Rio 2016 initiative (Photo: UNICEF/Fred Borba)