A Visit to Tekoa Ka’ Aguy Ovy Porã
by Athena Juarez
On Thursday, March 21, 2024, our class visited the Indigenous village, Tekoa Ka’ Aguy Ovy Porã, home of the Guarani people. It’s located in Inoã, Marica, Rio de Janeiro, which is about an hour drive from Copacabana. The official language of Tekoa Ka’ Aguy Ovy Porã is Guarani, not Portuguese. Most residents, particularly older ones, struggle to speak it, but the younger children are taught both languages in school to preserve their Native language and prepare children for the broader contexts in which Portuguese is used.
We arrived on the hottest day of the week-long heat wave that covered the country with a temperature of roughly 100 degrees fahrenheit, but that didn’t stop us from exploring the land and enjoying our time with the members of the village. We were welcomed by a community leader who sat and talked with us under a stick and straw, hut-like structure. Most of their spaces were built this way, symbolizing the importance of natural resources and the use of it in their lives. We ate a traditional Guarani breakfast, which included eggs, fried flour, and lemongrass tea, which is said to have healing properties and solidify one’s connection with God. Over the course of our stay, the community leader talked to us about a multitude of things regarding the Guarani way of living, including the value of nature, animals, the elderly, religion, and education.
After our breakfast, some of the children from the school came over to sing and dance a song they prepared for us. This culture is centuries old, and not many people know about it- even those who live in Brazil. It was such an honor, and one that brought tears to my eyes, as we listened to them sing traditional Guarani songs about the right to freedom, a praise to God and the Sun, and a welcome to us in hopes for our return to their village. Guarani singing is very powerful and important to the culture; it’s what helped the community leader become caring and patient with children. Their music also emphasized that “the Sun shines on everyone,” and on that particular day, it truly did. After their beautiful song and dance, we were shown their parent-built school, which consisted of two small classrooms; a small playground and a new building with air conditioning stood just outside. It was interesting to see how they utilize their space and incorporate both Guarani and Portuguese language in the classroom. They are able to accomplish this with the collaboration of four Indigenous teachers and four city teachers who work together, adjust the curriculum as needed with no textbooks, and ensure that both cultures are valued and embraced, especially their native one. Preschoolers learn to draw, and the older children are taught math and reading. Everyone learns Guarani culture, but it’s often felt that it’s not necessary as they engage with the culture every day. Students here attend school until fifth grade, but after that, they attend a school three miles away from the village. Education has evolved significantly for the village as the community leader himself didn’t begin schooling until he was thirteen years old, not the traditional five to six years of age that children are expected to begin school.
In this community, elders are highly respected. The head of the tribe is a ninety-year-old woman. They are valued because of their knowledge and ability to pass on the traditions of their culture. The village prayer house consists of elderly teachers who share the culture with children and discuss the preservation of their land. Currently, the Indigenous community is trying to prevent the construction of a resort in their village. This poses a huge threat to the community, and they’re fighting hard against it because that land is their life- they enjoy living among nature and wildlife as it’s vital to their everyday lives. Their previous government did not support them, but FUNAI, a Brazilian governmental protection agency for Indigenous community rights, helps fund and support them. They also have an Indigenous member who works with the village. With the help of their new government, the land is in the process of being recognized for the family that has lived there for generations, and they are back on track to have full documentation for the land, meaning they can retain the property from the Spanish who want to build the resort.
After visiting the river and discussing the prevalent topics in their community, we returned back to the hut where I purchased handmade bracelets and ate a traditional Guarani meal for lunch. It consisted of rice, beans, chicken that they raise themselves, leafy greens, and traditional Brazilian farofa. As I ate my food, I reflected on what I learned and experienced. Their community reminded me so much of my family’s hometown in Mexico; from the chuchos (dogs) and chickens running every which way to the use of natural resources in structures and food. The children here are lucky to grow up in this space; the community’s value for collectivism, passion for preservation, and care for the environment that surrounds and supports them is truly inspiring and heartwarming. It was an honor to be part of the few that have visited this beautiful village, and I am eternally grateful for this enriching experience. Aguyje Tekoa Ka’ Aguy Ovy Porã!
