Figure 1.--Here we see the Kayapó village school of Djetuktire in 1991. Once the Brazilian education approach of native children tried to inculcate western culture. Now therecisxan effort to respect and develop the local culture. These children are not required to wear clothing at school.

The Kayapó live along the the upper reaches of the Xingu River tributaries in Pará State. The Xingu is a major tributary of the Amazon. It is aoutheastern tributary and one ofvBrazil's longest rivers. Pará is a huge northeastern state including a large area of the Amazonian basin. The The area includes mixed ecosystems, both rain forest and open savanna. The region is located just south of the Equator and the climate is tropical. There is a rainy and dry season. The area is so remore that there was no sustained contact with Brazilians until the late-1950s. The population was estimated at about 4,000 people living in 14 villages. The villages are similar with huts arranged around a large plaza. The most important structure is the men's house in the center. A communal oven at one end of plaza is a favorite place for the women to gather. Their society practices slash and burn agriculture supplemented with hunting and gathering. The major crops are: manioc (sweet potatoes), fruit, tobacco, and cotton. The Brazilian Government granted them formal land reserves, a kind of semi-autonomous territory (1980s-90s). It covers 100,000 square kilometers, the size of a small European country. The discovery of gold has, however, caused many conflicts with Brazilians mining the gold. The photo was taken in 1991 in the village school of Djetuktire, Kayapó tribe (Brazil). Once the education of native children tried to inculcate the western culture. Now it try to respect and develop the local culture. This children are no required to wear clothing at school.

Created: 8:46 PM 12/23/2011
Last updated: 8:46 PM 12/23/2011