Histórias dos sertões do Araguaia mato-grossense : memórias, relações de pertencimentos e disputas de poderes.

Abstract

The text originates from a research on different land occupation in the Amazons, focussed on the Médio Araguaia region between the 1960s and 1980s, when the Amazonian wilderness was transformed into vast farms, in some cases initiating urban areas. The research focuses on the construction of a sense of belonging to the land and its history subsequent to a number of conflicts and violent occupation, along with the celebration of socio-political conquests by a group of river outbackers of the hamlet which later became the city of Santa Terezinha, situated in the North-East of Mato Grosso. Amongst a polyphony of documents that describe daily life, of particular interest are the wrtings of French priest François Jacques Jentel considered the protector of that place and its people, who lived almost two decades with the indigenous Tapirapé tribe and the river dwellers.

Keywords

• wilderness
• sertanejos-ribeirinhos
• araguaia
• mato grosso
• amazonian identity