NURTURING THE ROOTS (NTR)
Mentor Outreach 2006–2007
Círculo dos Saberes II

Young women of the Parecí people, hosts of the 2007 gathering.

In 2003 we sat down with the Aurora Foundation to devise a strategy for an outreach initiative which would strengthen our existing global mentor network and and expand our work into new areas. We chose the vast, culturally diverse “triangle” formed by the Hawaiian Islands, the islands of French Polynesia and the heart of Brazil as the focus of our work. Through a series of journeys into these regions over the last three years, we have been able to grow exponentially—identifying new mentors, meeting new community artists/ educators for future programs and locating new circles of interested people.

Isabel, Andreia, Eliane and Luciana.

In the case of Brazil, which has already brought forth Projeto Pegadas—a Brazilian arm of our Tracking Project—in 1998 and Nutrindo as Raízes—a second-generation mentor program (2003–2005)—another marvelous flower has now grown. From the inspiration of two of our mentor graduates—Isabel Taukane of the Kura-Bakairi people and her cousin, Andreia Taukane—has come Círculo dos Saberes (Circle of Wisdomkeepers / Knowing Ones), an indigenous youth and elder gathering which has already attracted a great deal of attention from the indigenous community.

Naine Terena, journalista and profesora of the Terena people.

This year’s gathering—Círculo II (Na Trilha dos Ancestrais—“On the Trail of the Ancestors”)—was held October 11–13 in the Parecí village of Aldeia Formoso, an eight hour bus ride from Cuiabá, in the state of Mato Grosso. The gathering was also billed as an “encounter for indigenous and non-indigenous people to share with one another.” While Círculo I was attended by people from six different tribes, Círculo II attracted members of eleven tribes. Representatives of the Bakairi, Parecí, Umutina, Manoki, Munduruku, Terena, Xerente, Chiquitano, Nambikwara and Xingu, as well as a young man from the Ilha de Bananal, came together to share their knowledge, sing their songs and revive their traditions.

Elder Alonso Iravali of the Manoki people.

Using the image of the circle, with no ending and no beginning, and the idea of the elders or “wisdomkeepers” of the community as the roots of the community’s survival, Isabel has “localized” the Tracking Project Arts of Life model to help her people recover their traditional knowledge and respect for nature. At the gatherings, the youth were presented with the opportunity to learn a variety of traditional skills, including firemaking, the production of traditional musical instruments, basketmaking, the bow and arrow, medicinal plants and many more traditional sciences, together with theater, history, poetry and music.

João Titi, elder of the Parecí people, at the opening
session of the gathering.

And most importantly, through talking circes, presentations and workshops, the youth were shown the value of the elders, the power of tradition and the beauty of tribal knowledge.

Solar Law, long-time associate and staff member of The Tracking Project, was able to attend the gathering on our behalf. He shared the concept of using the science of tracking to study where someone has been and where they are going, and he told them of the greater vision of the the mentor program and how they would join the others in the circle. His stories of the moving events that he saw and experienced took several hours to recount. His photos of the event are beautiful. We hope you enjoy the few we have the space to share.

Men and women of the Xerente people, who traveled all the way
from Tocantins to take part.

In October 2008, we hope to travel to Cuiabá to attend Círculo dos Saberes III.

We extend our blessings and thanks to Solar, Isabel, Andreia, their families, friends, supporters and all the indigenous people of Brazil.

The young men of the Umutina people, standing by the waterfall.

All photos by Solar Law.

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