There is further information about the Guarani available from the indigenous advocacy branch of the Brazilian Confederation of Bishops called CIMI. Their website reflects up-to-date news from branches around the country. Though in our occidental (western/technology based) countries the involvement of ecumenical groups is problematic, in Brazil the CIMI is right in there with legal aid, information, getting down to grass roots. A translation project would open the window to real understanding of events and timelines on the ground. Hint, hint to any deep pockets out there! If there is a publisher around, this story is definitely worth putting on the page!

Though the SI blog presents some older history, there’s a lot happening these days in terms of indigenous rights which are guaranteed under Article 231 of the 1988 Brazilian Federal Constitution. For example there was a posting on July 18 (yes this year!) that on June 26 the 535 hectare Kaiová Guarani TI (Indigenous Territory) of Sucuri’y was confirmed amidst great celebration including being able to reforest a substantial tract! Ten years of struggling on 64 hectares was finally reversed by Brazilian Judge Cecilia Mello. Where are the women’s groups around the world to celebrate this wise woman?

We hear the most horrible of what is happening to the detriment of cross-cultural understanding. The amazing news is that there is great headway being made with research in anthropology, musicology, archeology, linguistics and the cumulative wealth of information long hidden in Brazilian archives. The Guarani are not a decimated culture. In fact recent research shows that what we call ‘virgin forest’ is pretty much a myth. The thousands of years of these and other indigenous peoples migrating through the forests, especially the Guarani, are the stewards of much of the primary forest that has been cited as worth saving. The term is, I believe, ‘ethnomorphic’. You can walk through portions of Guarani forest ‘garden’ and not even know it because it is integrated in balance that, yes, serves the sustainability of the forest. Thousands of years of horticultural mastery is actually a social culture of the land called “Tekoha” which roughly means ‘the place where it is possible to be authentic Guarani’. Who advises this ancient unwritten culture? The Tamoi – the grandparents. Transmission of the Guarani culture is an intricate oral and amazing social paradigm (love that word – it sings) that like so many indigenous cultures around the world, protects the grandparents because they are the multifaceted, loving ‘plug-in’ to information thousands of years old and updated with each generation. We’re talking about walking encyclopedias!

For example: In 2000 a report was commissioned and co-authored by two Brazilian anthropologists. It focused on the Mbyá Guarani (western culture recognizes three branches: Kaiová, Mbyá and Nhandeva Guaranis). In the report it was noted that Carl von Liné, the father of western taxonomy – the system of botanical categorizing, referred to the Guarani as ‘primus verus systematicus’. My Latin is pretty poor – but it seems to translate to something like ‘ first true system’.

This is way too long –and I’m dreadfully sorry, but there are VOLUMES to be told about the Guarani!

Even if you don’t speak Portuguese check out the videos and recordings on the CIMI site:
http://www.cimi.org.br/
and follow the icons to radio and music.
Theres a young poet in Brazil named Orivaldo Nunes. Many years ago he wrote a small book titled “Miro the Poet” – THERES a story for the publishers! In it there is a little poem – this is a draft translation – but it gets the gist:

“Wait there! Come back!
Don’t think to leave me
Sit here, in whatever place
Look before you
And view the sea.
If sight isn’t achieved
Don’t be afflicted
One needs to free the gaze
Look toward heaven then
View how vast
Is space in its immensity
If sight isn’t achieved
Don’t be afflicted
Its necessary to use imagination”

As we explore the ecological problems the Guarani are having long conversations with scientists about their culture and way of stewarding the forests and themselves. It is a portal to the future. Can we listen?

OH! And wait… theres also the Instituto Socioambiental – theres an English page – give yourself LOTS of time and browse through … http://www.socioambiental.org/e/

Opps.. just one more site: CTI – the beginnings of the portal …in glorious photography by one of Brazil’s leading anthropologists, Maria Inês ladiera: http://www.trabalhoindigenista.org.br/galeria_guarani_mbya.asp

as always – please respect the rights to the images.

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