Caminhos de permanência : a resistência e o modo de vida dos quilombos de Banguelas em Prainha (PA)

Abstract

This work aims to analyze the dynamics of the way of life and the historical resistance of the quilombola communities in Prainha, seeking to present the cultural, social, economic, and environmental practices that characterize the community. From a methodological perspective, this research is anchored in Cultural History and adopts a qualitative approach, using techniques such as questionnaires, field observation, and document analysis. To obtain the necessary information and adequately address the investigative questions, visits were made to the Banguelas community, located on the banks of the Caminaú River, between December 2023 and February 2024. During these visits, interviews and observations were conducted in homes, ovens, cultivated areas, the school, chapel, and along the lake's shores, where relevant activities for the community take place. In the field, it was observed that the pioneers of this community, from the beginning, longed to restore family ties and gain the freedom to build relationships free from external influences, shaping the values and practices that guide community life to this day. The community, therefore, places special value on its intangible assets, such as life teachings, family harmony, and the freedom that flourishes in its locality, which are present in the bonds between members, in the preservation and transmission of their cultural traditions, and in the care for natural resources, which are maintained through sustainable management practices. In this regard, although expressive cultural activities continue to occupy a central place in the life of the community, there has been a shift in the religious sphere, as while the ancestors adopted Afro-Brazilian practices, today, the community is exclusively Catholic. Nevertheless, the traditions and rituals that shaped the cultural identity of the ancestors have left a lasting influence on local celebrations. In terms of subsistence, the community continues to follow traditional methods, such as the cultivation of crops and the extractive exploitation of fruits. Besides these practices, knowledge is transmitted through family-based education, passed down from generation to generation, as well as through access to formal educational institutions. In this context, the educational product developed as part of this dissertation, materialized in the form of a booklet, plays an important role, as it documents and values the cultural and historical heritage of the Banguelas quilombola community, in addition to serving as a pedagogical resource. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]