ME KUNĪ UMARI: NETWORKED FOR THE LINGUISTIC RIGHTS OF MEBÊNGÔKRE (KAYAPÓ) IN SÃO FÉLIX DO XINGU – PA

Abstract

The Xingu River crosses several indigenous territories along its course, among which is one of the most extensive and populous in Brazil. There lives Mebêngôkre (Kayapó) people, who speak the language of the same name, from the Jê family, Macro-Jê trunk. Its reserves occupy areas covering the states of Mato Grosso and Pará. Among them is the Kayapó TI with more than 30 schools in the region, but the Mebêngôkre still suffer the typical pressures of minority languages. In 2019, the language was made co-official in São Félix do Xingu (PA). This fact has not yet changed the local linguistic reality. In order to admit and forward the demands of the Mebêngôkre regarding their linguistic rights, the Extension Project Actions to Combat Linguistic Prejudice (UFRJ), in partnership with the municipality's Department of Indigenous School Education, created the action "Me kuni umari — in network for the rights language”. That is the experience reported here.