Living in our culture: the Tupinambá of Olivença and the challenge of defining indigeneity in southern Bahia, Brazil

Author(s)

Ernenek Mejía

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas
• Defense date: 2012-03-29

Examining board members

John Manuel Monteiro; Maria Rosario Gonçalves de Carvalho; José Maurício Paiva Andion Arruti

• Advisor: John Manuel Monteiro

Abstract

Focusing on the Tupinambá of Olivença, Southern Bahia, Brazil, this thesis describes and analyzes the process through which they sought to become recognized as an indigenous people, with all the risks, advantages, conditions, and contradictions that this entails. The thesis examines the ways in which members of this collectivity developed their own definition for Indians and indigeneity as a result of their relations with the Indian movement, government agencies, non-governmental indigenist organizations, anthropologists, and historians, among others, in the process of becoming recognized officially as Indians. Examining Tupinambá collective memory, the thesis examines how this group elaborated a new reading of their own past, viewing their history as Indians within the region and within Brazil. At the same time, the author defines the concepts used within the context of Tupinambá sociality, including "struggle" and "living in our culture", expressions that were employed in determining what it means to be Tupinambá. The thesis also discusses the challenges raised by others in contesting this group's authenticity as Indians, which reveals the conflict involving different actors in establishing the criteria for what constitutes an Indian (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/04776-8 - THE INDIGENOUS EMERGENCY AS A PROCESS OF COLLECTIVE HISTORICAL ACTORS. A STUDY OF CONFROTATION DIALOGUE AND CULTURAL NEGOTIATION OF TUPINAMBÁ.
• Grantee: Amiel Ernenek Mejía Lara
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master