INDIGENOUS SCHOOLS IN CEARÁ STATE: A STORY OF RESISTANCE

Abstract

The present work has as objective to investigate the routes traced by the native peoples to the emergence of indigenous school education in the State of Ceará, the origins of the differentiated and intercultural school, as well as research on policies and actions developed in this school environment aimed at respecting the identity and the self-recognition of this population. The State of Ceará currently has 38 indigenous schools of the state and municipal network, distributed in 16municipalities for 14 ethnic groups from Ceará. When thinking about the indigenous movement, especially about the emergence of indigenous school education in Ceará and its schools, there were some concerns and questions: what were the paths drawn in this struggle for resistance to the existence of a school designed by the original peoples and for these , guaranteeing their rights to this differentiated and intercultural school, aiming at preserving their identity and at the same time giving access to science and technology, withinthe standards of the schools assured by the Ministry of Education and its secretariats? How are policies and actions developed for these schools and their actors? As a theoretical reference, we list as main thinkers on the indigenous question: Martins (2015), Aires (2009), Nascimento (2006), and others, besides sources from the website of the Education Department and its responsible cell. The methodology adopted was ethnographic research, in addition to bibliographic research, through books, articles, documents and websites. An interview was held with the indigenous leadership (cacique) of Tremembé village. The results reveal a history traced by struggle, resistance, losses, negotiations, but also victories over the aspects related to the valorization of indigenous identity and self-recognition. The considerations reflect on the emergence of continuity over the struggle of the indigenous social movement and indigenous school education, on which more visibility and investment should be provided.