Indigenous writer Olívio Jekupe has released the book “The Cry of Mother Earth,” dedicated to assisting elementary and high school teachers, providing students with a reinterpretation of indigenous peoples’ history.
The current context of redefining the identity of indigenous peoples in Brazilian society creates a demand in classrooms for which teachers may not always have the knowledge or good study material to facilitate discussions.
The book features a preface by Alok.
About Olívio Jekupe
Renowned indigenous writer of native literature from the Guarani ethnic group, Olívio resides in the Kakane Porã village in Curitiba. He is the author of 24 books and began writing in 1984. He started studying philosophy at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná in 1988, funding his studies by selling handicrafts. Olívio has also been an elementary school teacher, president of the Indigenous Writers and Artists Association (Nearin), and one of the founders of the Guarani Nae’en Porã Association.
From the author:
““Whenever I am invited to give a lecture at a school or university in Brazil, one thing I always mention is that Brazil was invaded and robbed, because the Treaty of Tordesillas – signed by the kings of Spain and Portugal in 1494 – is already evidence of that. That’s why I never fail to speak about this topic. It is crucial for teachers to discuss these matters in the classrooms and show that this treaty is proof of everything because I know that many teachers may not realize it and let it go unnoticed. As a result, children grow up without knowing the true history and end up believing in the lie that is the so-called “discovery of Brazil”, as it is told to this day. I know that if the truth is told to students from the beginning of their education, they will grow up with a different perspective.”
Fotos: Arquivo do Projeto
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