Fundos de Pasto: territorialidade, luta e reconhecimento

Abstract

In Brazil we are observing a series of new business actions supported by the implementation of “territory and space reorganization” policies. These policies are a result of deliberate protectionist State Action, aimed towards the restructuring of markets, thus controlling the commercialization of land, forest and subsoil resources. The implementation of these policies implies the “flexibility” of judicial norms that assure the territorial rights of traditional peoples and communities, therefore weakening the affirmation of “traditionally occupied lands”. Such policies also aim to attend the progressive demands for economic growth based on the exportation of mining and agricultural commodities. These actions are putting the way of life of diverse traditional peoples and communities at risk. This thesis concentrates on the dynamics organized by social agents that identify themselves as “fundos de pasto” and which articulate actions of resistance to ensure the possession and use of their lands. These actions intend, principally, to pressure the State to recognize territorial rights, as well as demand the creation of administrative procedures for the land regularization of “fundos de pasto”. However, these administrative processes have been paralyzed for more than five years. My main focus for this research proposal is to: 1) describe the specific territorialities of five families in the city of “Oliveira dos Brejinhos”, Bahia State, Brazil; 2) narrate the struggle called “bode solto” (loose goat); 3) analyze the discourse of leaders from different groups and associations; 4) present some epistemological obstacles that hinder the comprehension of the ways of life, specific territorialities, the processes of territorialization, traditional knowledge, perspectives and the needs of each group. Therefore, I refer to the mobilization of the “Articulação Estadual de Fundos de Pasto” (State Articulation of Fundos de Pasto) and reiterate the need to break these epistemological obstacles in order to facilitate the possibilities of consolidating new forms of description and classification.