Assistência técnica e extensão rural no âmbito da interculturalidade: experiências indigenistas no Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

The rural extension policies are among the main routes to promotion and consolidation of indigenous peoples rights. The aim of this study is to comprehend if there was promotion of intercultural dialogue or coloniality process (of power, being and knowing) on indigenous peoples in the conceiving and implementation of rural extension policies to indigenous peoples in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), intensified in the last two decades. Considering the historical process, it was made a review and analysis of the intervention of the indigenists agencies in the way of life and territories of indigenous peoples in Rio Grande do Sul during the twentieth century until the recent period. The rural extension policies to indigenous peoples of Rio Grande do Sul were surveyed in the historical perspective, intentionality of projects and volume of resources, focusing on the analysis of the experience of the RS Rural Program and Brazil Without Poverty Plan. The perspective of analysis is based on theoretical contributions of the set of studies modernity/coloniality, specifically their derivatives studies regarding critical interculturalism. This notion was incorporated to avoid a strictly relational and functional analysis of intercultural relations, seeking to observe the established asymmetrical power relations. The field research consisted of ten semi-structured interviews: six individual interviews with Kaingang leaders of indigenous land Inhacorá (São Valério do Sul), two individual interviews with extension agents that provide services to indigenous communities in different regions of Rio Grande do Sul, a collective interview with indigenous Guarani Mbyá of the Indian Reservation Tekoá Koenju (São Miguel Mission) and an collective interview with three agents of the Regional Coordination of the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI) in Passo Fundo. An analysis of documents provided by the Ministry of Agrarian Development (MDA), Ministry of Social Development and Fight against Hunger (MDS) and the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI/Ministry of Justice), belonging to the Federal Government of Brazil, was realized. During the period in which the indigenists agencies acted, it is possible to characterize technical assistance associated with the tutelary regime, intervening directly on the way of life, control the use of land, labor and agricultural and forestry production on indigenous lands. Thus, it can be considered that there was intense coloniality of power, of being and of knowledge in this process. In the specific cases observed, the Guarani Mbyá indigenous people at the Indian Reservation Inhacapetum (Tekoá Koenju) and Kaingang at the indigenous land Inhacorá had different relationships with the development program of the Plan Brazil Without Poverty. Changes in rural extension service have been identified over time, and in the early years of the RS Rural program, there was a strong influence on the allocation of funds for the promotion of agricultural activities, especially by the state government. Under the mediation of the extension agents, practices were identified compatible with interculturalism, in which there was respect for the autonomy and self-determination of indigenous people.Thus, there were significant changes in the work of technical assistance by the indigenist agency for the service provided by the official organ of rural extension. However, rural extension policy for indigenous peoples still need to be consolidated as a permanent state policy, specific and differentiated.