Among papers, people and practice: ethnography of Indigenous scholar education in Altamira - PA

• Grant number: 12/11748-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Anthropology - Indigenous Ethnology
• Principal Investigator: Clarice Cohn
• Grantee: Ana Elisa Santiago
• Host Institution: Centro de Educação e Ciências Humanas (CECH). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research intends to follow ethnographic training and management of indigenous education in the city of Altamira (PA) This study proposes to track ethnographically the formation and management of indigenous schooling in the town of Altamira (PA), which comprises nine ethnic groups (Arara, Araweté, Asurini, Curuaia, Juruna, Kararaô, Parakanã, Xipaia, Xikrin), Karib, Tupi and Ge languages. This region corresponds, according to the new configuration proposed by the Federal Government, to the Etnoeducacional 11 territory, as well as being one of the municipalities in the area covered in addition to being one of the municipalities in the area covered by the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Complex, in installation process. The implementation of this management model and the compensatory measures for construction of the plant has led to major changes, we intend to follow up. The current proposal intends to continue my undergraduate research, conducted by the Observatory of Indigenous Education, by which I conducted field work from August to October 2010, in February 2011 and again in August and September 2011. The research has been conducted in the City Department of Education of Altamira as a privileged locus that allowed me to learn different discursive positions: the Indians - trying to understand what they expect from the school that is offered; the Sate - their policies and guidelines proposed for these schools; and the officers of the Department - responsible for making the indigenous education work and often come up against financial, bureaucratic and pedagogical constraints. The intention here is to make a dialogue with these areas, anthropology and ethnology of the Indian state, so that a perspective enriches the other. As the State anthropology, the indigenous school management ethnography that is intend to perform does not sticks only to the official organs of assistance and protection but is also trying to understand how the Indians access (or don't access) these services. And, for ethnology, it proposes to attend in this ethnography of a public body operation the way these people define and struggling for their educational demands.