Revista de Antropologia (Dec 1993)
Governmental indigenist policy and the Waimiri-Atroari: indigenist management, tin mining, and the construction of regulated "indigenous self-determination"
Abstract
ln this paper, S. Baines examines the Waimiri-Atroari case to show that the idea of selfdetermination is being used by Brazilian govemment servants in charge of national Indian policies as a tool for domination. ln this context, researchers are not allowed into the lndians' lands under govemment administration, this being only a small part of a wider strategy. Such "directed (by others) selfdetermination"reveals the submission of Brazil 's indigenous policy to the interests of both private and state-owned companies. This is specially striking when "Calha Norte" Project is concerned. ln this case, "Paranapanema" and "Eletronorte " are the beneficiary companies which benefit from such a policy .
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