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WORLD ANTHROPOLOGICAL UNION

CONGRESS 2024​

Paper

The Role of Anthropology in the Advocacy for Reparation of Traditional Communities in Brazil

presenters

    Jade Alcântara Lôbo

    Nationality: Brazil

    Residence: Brazil

    Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

    Presence:Face to Face/ On Site

This study examines the role of anthropology in the context of environmental crises and socio-technological disasters, focusing specifically on the reparation of damages caused by the rupture of Dam B-I at the Córrego do Feijão Mine, operated by Vale S.A. The disaster, which occurred in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, - Brazil, severely impacted various Peoples and Communities of Ancestral Religious Tradition of African Matrix (PCTRAMA). These groups uphold the ancestral African philosophy, where there is no division between living and non-living beings, considering all as biotic units with cosmic life. For the PCTRAMA, elements such as water, plants, stones, and animals are sacred and essential for the community's balance, and the socio-technological disaster disrupted this cosmic equilibrium. The research, conducted by the Institute for the Defense of Afro-Brazilian Religious Rights (IDAFRO), employed a multidisciplinary approach to record and interconnect data, narratives, documents, and experiences. Methodologically, the study combined bibliographic review, in-depth ethnographic listening, application of semi-structured questionnaires, guided interviews with leaders, collection and analysis of historical and registry documents, fieldwork, region mapping, and geoprocessing. The research team, led by the present anthropological researcher, consisted of 11 professionals, including engineers, biologists, architects, journalists, and psychologists. The pricing of material and immaterial damages followed the jurisprudence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Additionally, communication products such as booklets, documentaries, and podcasts were developed to keep the communities informed and engaged in the process. This study aims to contribute to the discussion on environmental justice, emphasizing the importance of anthropology in defending traditional peoples. By promoting a multidisciplinary analysis and a participatory approach, the research highlights the need to integrate traditional knowledge with the specific demands of impacted communities, thus conducting an anthropology on demand.

Keywords:

Anthropology of Disasters, Traditional communities, Environmental Justice, Socio-Technological Disasters,