The consequence of a lived experience

by Maria Mariana Daher Faria Menezes (Brazil)

A leap into the unknown Brazil

The day I went visit and know the Ashaninka Ethnic Group way of living with my dad was the most important day in my hole life cause brings to me class consciousness and the notion of privileges. My dad, an agronomist and activist for the rights of indigenous populations, has always promised to introduce me to an indigenous ethnic group when I turn 15 years old. At the time, I didn't care much about these activist themes and in favor of any cause because I had no idea of the problems that indigenous people live in Brazil. However, as I mentioned, this experience brought me knowledge of the neglect of Brazilian politics towards this indigenous population. The Ashaninka Ethnic Group that I visited is located in one of the poorest, most dangerous Brazilian states with a heavy indigenous population, the state of Acre. This Ethnic Group has suffered so much and is so rich in culture, customs, learning, and history, in which it is not noticed in the midst of the advent of globalization, people came to value what I call futility, and increasingly failing to exalt and know the very culture of the region and country. Prioritize the indigenous people and their way of life, disseminate this, with a view to a greater appreciation of these people, who have already had their rights violated and have been forgotten over time must be fight for all of us. In colonial times, Brazil was one of the colonies that most decimated indigenous populations, who, by the way, had lived in such lands for a long time. This refers to the thought of European superiority that has spread to the present day, valuing a Eurocentric culture and ignoring the roots, the true Brazilian culture, that which comes from the customs of the indigenous peoples. It is necessary to educate and guide people on cultural appropriation, for example using Indian headdresses in electronic parties, this is because we had guidelines and principles to act in front of this original population, which is so unevenly represented in different fields of society. For five days I knew the customs, the dress, the cuisine, the beliefs, the countless gods they believe, and the regionalism of the ethnicity. It was one of the richest experiences I've had in my life. I asked permission to photograph some events that happened during my stay because I was there to do volunteer work. My job was to teach the Portuguese language to children, but there were others like cooking, helping with fishing, or sewing. This happened at a very troubled time in my life but the experience could not have been better, I learned to be more humble, to be less anxious, to believe more in the human being and, obviously, this event forced me to continue fighting for visibility of Brazilian indigenous peoples. The glamor, standardized beauty, and consumerism propagated by social networks blind the receiver and deceives, implying people's belief that the problems are far away and closer than they think. Social networks play an important role in raising awareness and guiding people, but these are dangerous because they cause alienation, the belief that everything is perfect and there is no problem in the world. What I lived in this ethnic group was unique and precious. I heard stories of resistance from the older ones and hope of the younger ones inside, I was touched by such a unique culture and the learning I gained from this experience. Having contact with this population was a great personal cure, a necessary ‘wake up’ for my life and a call to fight for them and with them on this journey of struggle for indigenous rights in Brazil.