ETHNOGRAPHY POTIGUARA DE PARAÍBA: REFLECTIONS ON GEOGRAPHIC EDUCATION IN INDIGENOUS SCHOOLS

Abstract

The present work presents reflections on the Potiguara Ethnogeography of Paraíba, with reference to the Indigenous School Education. Indigenous education can bean analyzed as a resistance strategy of these peoples. Thus, differentiated teaching is seen as an instrument both politico-pedagogical and social. The search for an indigenous school education requires changes in guidelines, objectives, curricula and programs more appropriate to the indigenous reality. In addition to this change in pedagogical structure, the indigenous school is built on the interrelation between teacher, student, leadership, leader ship and community. The indigenous peoples of Potiguara have their particular form of education, so they could not and should not continue to live subordinated to absorb the values and know ledge of the dominant culture, without being able to express their culture for their people and for society. Hence the need for an indigenous school education that contemplates the cultural richens soft is ethnic group. The indigenous Potiguara peoples inhabit the northern coast of Paraíba since the arrival of the European colonizers and have one of the largest indigenous populations of the ethnographic Northeast of Brazil. The approach of geography and its teaching methodology in Potiguara’s different at education schools can and should contribute significantly to (re) affirming the ethnic and cultural identity of these peoples. Geography is also of great importance for the Potiguara as it is present in the daily life of these peoples, be it in rituals, fishing, hunting, religion, plantations, domestic activities and their moments that constitute the production process of space and the territoriality of these peoples. Being the most significant themes for geography and geography teaching in Potiguara villages: the territorial question, the natural dynamics (vegetation, climate, relief, hydrography), the socio-environmental question and the appreciation of the wisdom of its people. Based on this approach, we believe that geography has as its contribution to improving, expanding and valuing the know ledge that Indians already have in relation to their territory, establishing a relationship between the teaching of geography and the ethnic mapping of indigenous Potiguara lands as instruments that Value the ethnic and cultural identity of these peoples and facilitate the teaching of geographical content. The present study has as methodological references, the bibliographical research, the documentary research and the Field study / case study. Geography as a science and the teaching of geography are very relevant in this territory, marked by the over lapping of lands, this study seek stonily zither Potiguara indigenous lands from the geographic point of view aiming at its approach by the indigenous school community.