MAP-MAKING IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL - Mapping Time, Space and the Body - page 118

Área Indígena Guarani Boa Vista, Município de Ubatuba
Guarani Boa Vista Indigenous Area, Municipality of Ubatuba
Location: - The Boa Vista Area is located in the municipality of Ubatuba (north
coast of the State of São Paulo), 20 km from Ubatuba city along the Rio-Santos
Highway.
Population: 135 inhabitants, living in 25 houses.
River: The Promirim River cuts across the Village.
School: Our school is called Tembiguai Indigenous School. It works in two shifts:
from 11:20 am to 4:00 pm it's the Kindergarten through 4 th grade. From 4:00 pm
to 6:00 pm it's the adult turn. Kids that finish 4 th grade can go on to the local public
school to continue studying. This is a victory the Guarani achieved in education:
the Conselho Escolar Indígena [Indigenous Schooling Council] was created by
our community leaders and family members. The Council is responsible for the
functioning of our entire Indigenous school.
Language: Our teaching system is bi-lingual. Children in 1 st and 2 nd grade learn
how to read and write in Guarani, and move on to Portuguese in 3 rd grade.
Food: We have two meals, lunch and a snack. There are three employees paid by
the Municipality: a cook, a teacher and a bi-lingual aid.
Health: We have a Health Center with a Funai [ Fundação Nacional do Índio -
National Indian Foundation] nurse taking care of everybody.
This is how our community works:
Activities: Hearts of palm plantation is our main source of subsistence. The work
is done by both men and women. The hearts of palm are sold at the Ubatuba street
market on weekends.
Arts and Crafts: Also a main source of subsistence. Baskets, necklaces, bows,
and arrows, etc. These items are sold at IBAMA [Brazilian Institute of the
Environment], TAMAR Project [Sea Turtle Project] and at the street market.
Hunting: People go out hunting in groups or not. The animals that we still find
around here are wild boar, agouti , skunk, armadillo, rabbit, fish (only far away),
monkey, deer, capybara , sloth, anteater, and coati.
Prayer: The pajé [shaman] calls the community to sing, while giving out advice
to the elders, children, and adults. He speaks about a better future for all Peoples.
After his advice, the dance and singing ceremony begins. It goes from 6:00 pm
until 2:00 am. The Baptism-festival takes place once a year, on January 29 th ,
when the children born that year receive their Guarani names from the pajés .
After a lengthy ritual period, the pajé calls in the women with children to be
baptized.
Music: We have a musical group called “Nhandereko Arandu” formed by
children, the coordinators, and the musicians. The songs are old, remembered by
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