Indigenous school education as educational innovation: the school and the community aspirations for the future

O objeto desta tese são os aspectos que distinguem a educação escolar indígena da educação escolar convencional. Especificamente, dirige-se a processos educacionais que possam ser classificados como inovadores, ou seja, tentativas de alteração de práticas educacionais consideradas costumeiras. O objetivo principal foi definir a educação escolar indígena a partir da relação que esta estabelece com as aspirações de futuro das comunidades. Para tanto foi examinada a hipótese de que experiências recentes de escolarização indígena vêm buscando compatibilizar objetivos escolares com objetivos comunitários. Esta hipótese foi confirmada no estudo de caso da Escola Indígena Khumuno Wuu, que fica em território do povo Kotiria (Wanano), na Comunidade Caruru Cachoeira, alto rio Uaupés, no município de São Gabriel da Cachoeira, AM, Amazônia brasileira. Conclui que, ao refletirem sobre o que querem da sua escola, os Kotiria elaboram e executam seus planos para o contexto atual e para as novas gerações, o que faz da escola espaço principal de reunião comunitária, debate e intervenção sobre as condições de vida atuais e futuras.The aim of this thesis is to analyse the aspects which distinguish indigenous school education from traditional education. For that purpose, educational processes that may be classified as innovative and all the attempts to change the common educational practices have been considered. The main objective was to define the indigenous school education regarding the relationship that it establishes with its community aspirations for the future. To that end, we have examined the hypothesis that the recent indigenous schooling experience has tried to interrelate the school objectives with the community objectives. This hypothesis was confirmed in the case study of Khumuno Wuu Indigenous School which is located in Kotirias (Wanano) territory, Caruru Cachoeira Community, on the Northern shores of Uaupés River, in the city and municipality of São Gabriel da Cachoeira, AM, in the Brazilian Amazon region. The conclusion was that by reflecting upon what they expect from school, the Kotiria people elaborate and execute their plans bearing in mind their current context as well as the future generations. That makes the school the main place for community gathering, intervention and debate about the current and future living conditions