Education Policy for Indigenous People in Southern Brazil: the Introduction of Schools for the Kaingang (1910-1967)

Abstract

Schooling for indigenous peoples in Brazil arose during the period of colonisation and was implemented in diverse ways in different times and spaces. During the colonial and imperial period (16th-19th centuries), educational initiatives aimed at indigenous peoples were religious in nature. It was not until the 20th century that the Brazilian government announced and specified educational policies which, in principle, were to be secular, with the creation of the Indian Protection Service (SPI) that operated across much of the country between 1910 and 1967. Based on a stewardship model, the indigenous body was responsible for implementing policies that worked towards integrating indigenous people into national society, with schools being an important ally in fulfilling this aim. This articles looks at the school education policies implemented for the Kaingang people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. By analysing official documents and bibliography covering the SPI’s activities and policies, the paper demonstrates how and for what purpose schools for the Kaingang people were introduced in the communities of Nonoai, Guarita, Ligeiro and Cacique Doble during the lifespan of the indigenous body. We can broadly conclude that the SPI attained its goals, interfering in traditional ways of life and transforming indigenous people into national workers, whilst inflicting great harm on the Kaingang language.

Keywords: Indigenous Policies; Indian Protection Service; indigenous schools; Kaingang schools; history of indigenous education.