Who never sang “Ten Little Indians” as a child?
Although very well known in Brazil, this song is not originally Brazilian. It has its roots in a traditional American song from the 19th century.
In our lessons, we have been replacing the word “little Indians” with curumins (from Tupi, meaning “boys” or “children”). It is a caring and respectful way to sing the song while avoiding the pejorative meaning that the term “Indian” can carry.
I like to share the original lyrics of traditional songs with families so they can reconnect with their childhood memories. At the same time, it is essential to offer alternatives that reflect the values we want to pass on and enrich the vocabulary of both children and adults.
Our song repertoire is full of songs and games with similar issues. We do not need to forget them or remove them from our repertoire, but it is beautiful to be able to reinterpret them together without losing the emotional memories they carry.
Do you know other versions of this song? Tell me in the comments!
