Abstract
This article aims to systematize and analyze, from a historical perspective, the discussions that permeated the topic of indigenous health in interface with the demography of these populations, based on the political dimension that the quantification of indigenous peoples assumed during the military dictatorship in Brazil. Covering an extensive period that extends from the establishment of the Indian Protection Service in 1910 until the end of the 1980s, this article offers a comprehensive view of the topic. The analysis focuses primarily on the 1970s, highlighting the actors involved in this debate: indigenous leaders, indigenists, academics, health professionals, and missionaries.
Key words:
Indigenous health; Indigenous demography; Indigenous peoples and military dictatorship