The Kadiwéu are the last surviving tribe of the famous Mbaya, or Cavaleiros Indians. Historical literature once called them 'the Indian gentlemen,' due to their ownership of vast herds of horses and their admirable horsemanship skills.

The Kadiwéu settled by the Paraguay River at the end of the 18th century, and they currently live in a territory located in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, partially crossing through the Mato Grosso Pantanal. According to 2009 data, there are around 1,800 people belonging to this ethnic group.

Kadiwéu society was divided into three classes: the nobles, warriors and servants. The latter caste practised agriculture, producing food for the rest of society. The warriors used to plunder neighbouring peoples and, besides demanding tribute from them, they would kidnap their children and adopt them as members of the Kadiwéu tribe.
Political decisions are made by the captain and his advisors. The right to command is hereditary and today itt is granted to the eldest great-grandson of the capitãozinho, the venerable leader of the past. Today, the caciques take decisions along with a council, which is composed mostly of elderly and experienced men.

However, it should be noted that the political role of the young leaders is just as strong. They gain prestige because of education (some of them have a secondary school leaving certificate) and their knowledge of the Portuguese language, which comes handy during negotiations with outsiders. Some families still live in small groups, scattered across the Kadiwéu Indigenous Land, and far away from the main settlements.

The Kadiwéu, now greatly reduced in number, try to adapt to the life imposed onto them by society as farmers and small livestock breeders. Since the 17th century, they have been known for their aggressiveness and warlike attitude. As they opposed foreigners, they were an obstacle to colonisation.

A milestone event in the history of the Kadiwéu people was their participation in the Paraguayan war. Today, countless anectodes among the Kadiweu still evoke details of this event, recalling their heroic performance in that conflict: when they fought on behalf of the Brazilians and won, they gained as a reward the territory that they still inhabit today.

The Kadiwéu Indigenous Land was officially recognised by the Mato Grosso State Government at the beginning of the 20th century. Their land was demarcated in 1900 and three years later a decree established the boundaries that are still in place today. However, land issues have been a constant problem in the history of the Kadiwéu.

At the end of the 1950s, cattle breeders began to occupy the land with the blessing of the SPI (Indian Protection Service, the predecessor of today's Funai). By 1961, 61 individual contracts had already been concluded with new settler tenants. This significantly changed the indigenous people's land use. At the beginning of the 1990s, there were 89 rented farms within the reserve, covering almost the entire territory.