No banzeiro das águas e das relações: entre cheias e ameaças de desterritorialização – identidade, histórias e memórias de resistência da Comunidade Ribeirinha Tradicional de São Carlos, no Baixo Madeira (Porto Velho/RO)

Abstract

In this this work we aim at highlighting the characteristics of collective, relational identity and symbolic resistance, which characterize São Carlos as a traditional riverside community. We start from the hypothesis that São Carlos resists to colonization and is a symbolic and strategic point of maintenance of the communities around its center and of “Baixo Madeira”;, The resistance is visible even in the face of territorial redefinition processes, socio-environmental conflicts and identity redefinitions imposed by the globalizing capitalist power on these communities. As specific objectives for this work, we chose: to reconstitute São Carlos community´s history . We propose to identify, from everyday life, constituent elements of being, living and activities of residents of a traditional riverside community. We ask what generates the sense of belonging to the community and the territory highlighting the impacts and consequences of the great flood of 2014 on people´s lives, identity and territory Sao Carlos community; we also analyze the effects of public power´s actions or omissions in the community, simultaneously to the mobilizations and territorial redefinitions imposed on traditional communities, which occur within the scope of large projects and policies for exploring natural resources ( rubber, gold, agribusiness, hydroelectric plants, etc. ).Our research was carried out through participant observation and ethnography, based on the principles of Complexity Theory and Action Theory. The theoretical and conceptual framework is based on the authors: Gluckman (1987); Leach (1995); Clifford Geertz (2008, 2014); Bourdieu (1997); Feldman-Bianco (2010); Van Velsen (2010); Ades (2004); Cannabarro; Moser; Ernesto (2018); Morin (2005, 2011); Santos (2002); Hall (1997, 2009); Bhabha (2014); Edir Pereira (2014); Marco Teixeira (2008, 2009); Barauna (2014); Little (2004). The narrative framework was constituted from 29 structured and semi-structured interviews, recorded/filmed, and from the impressions triggered and reported through countless other informal interviews with several residents of São Carlos community, with whomt we have maintained contact through more than 30 visits to the field. The principles of Oral History were fundamental for the composition of the narrative framework and for recording the reports and testimonies of people who suffered/suffer, in the deepest part of their bodies, minds, houses, belongings, plantations and creations, the consequences, pains, traumas, fears and losses caused by floods and territorial redefinitions. In this study we pay attention to the impacts triggered by the processes of territorial redefinitions which passed/pass the traditional Sao Carlos riverside community as well as the surrounding communities. We consider the dimensions of identity, socio-environmental conflicts, social effects and struggles for sustainable development , by the territory and by the traditional characteristics. Thus we hope that these studies and records may contribute to minimize the socio-cultural and socio-environmental impacts caused by the processes of territorial displacement and serve as a parameter for future mobilizations and territorial redefinitions in traditional communities in the state of Rondônia and the Amazon.