The shared universe: circulation and articulation of knowlegdes in communication practices of the paiter surui people

Abstract

The subject matter of this project is about understanding indigenous conceptions of communication, focusing on the wide variety of experiences of the Surui Indians of Rondônia, Brazil, which includes the use of new technologies, as well as so called traditional contexts involving communication between parents from different clans, with other groups, with non-indians, or even with non-humans. By connecting these contexts, this project pursues a comprehension of what means establishing communication - and relationship - for the indigenous agents involved in communication practices, trying to escape particularly from the dilemma drawn by the opposition between "traditional contexts" and "new contexts". It assumes as an hypothesis that it is not possible to understand the relationships indigenous peoples do establish with the non-indigenous society, including for what relates to their use of communication technology and their participation in the digital inclusion policies, without understanding first the global meaning of relationship and communication for those groups. This projects extends from the reflection fostered by the experiences I acquired during the master degree, about the use of internet by indigenous peoples.