“Savages” and “Brutes”: The Construction of Indigenous Stigma in Colombia Since the Nineteenth Century

Abstract

This article reflects on the historical development and enduring nature of anti-indigenous stigmatization in Colombia from the nineteenth century to contemporary times. It explores how official discourse, legislative measures, and cultural entities – such as the National Museum during the early republican era – upheld dichotomous representations that celebrate pre-Hispanic civilizations while depicting present-day indigenous populations as primitive or violent. From the Regeneration era and the enactment of the 1886 Constitution to the exclusionary rhetoric of President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, 2002–1,010, this paper demonstrates how discriminatory ideologies have been institutionalized through government action and dominant narratives. These frameworks have sustained structural racism by withholding full political participation from Indigenous peoples and constructing them as obstacles to national advancement. Grounded in public history and decolonial critique, this work advocates for responsible engagement with silenced narratives and redefinitions of Colombian identity that center Indigenous presence and sovereignty.