From colonizing school to place of ethnic resistance: A special and different indigenous school for the Mbya Guaraní people

Abstract

This article proposes discussions about the education in the indigenous school, from the perspective of the Mbya-Guarani people of the villages Tekoa Ka'agui Poty and Tekoá Yvy Poty, sur of Brazil. The indigenous school wanted to transform from the model of a colonialist and integrationist school into a place of ethnic resistance and the preservation of culture. As a public policy, its effectiveness depends on governmental perspectives that are influenced by non-indigenous difficulty in understanding and respecting the Guaraní culture. The Guarani make no distinction between life, education, and spirituality and want a school that contributes to strengthening this way of living. The research methodology is inspired by participatory and collaborative research, which provides reciprocal and symmetrical exchanges between indigenous and non-indigenous people.