Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: Valdelice Veron

KAIOWA REKO ROPYTA HA TEKOHA MARANGATU YVY NHEMONDA

[KAIOWÁ FORMATIVE PROCESSES: THE ORIGIN OF KAIOWÁ LIFE AND THE LOSS OF THEIR SACRED LANDS]

Kaiowá; Brazilian Indigenous People’s; Tekohas.

The aim of this doctoral thesis in social anthropology is to explore the resistance of Kaiowa’s
people, located in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, towards the colonization of their
sacred lands. The author, a Kaiowa leader herself, charts a comprehensive pathway that
enlighten the alliance of the Guarani-Kaiowa’s in upholding their territories (tekohas), as well
their traditional religion leaderships, the Nhandesys and Ñanderus, the Guarani’s People Great

Assembly and the Kaiowa Aty Guasu. The thesis also displays the persistent battle of Guarani-
Kaiowa peoples for the right of occupying their territory through acts of resumption -

movements of self-demarcating their traditional lands, together with rebuilding Praying Houses
and preserving sacred rituals, which are constantly under threat. Furthermore, the author
reinforces the role of women leaders in passing along traditional knowledge during rituals, the
cultural significance of fire use to the Guarani-Kaiowa, and their reliance against political
attacks, especially those impacting indigenous people’s health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The current thesis is, thus, a testament of the inseparability of life (teko) and territory (tekoha)
for the Guarani-Kaiowa, as it underscores the urgency of their resistance against violent actions
targeting their people in their sacred lands.