In 1985, the social scientist Maria Terezinha Martins, on behalf of FUNAI, interviewed Manoel Deolindo, who was 84 at the time, about the origins of the supposed village of Pau Brasil. "My grandparents, João Ribeiro and Rosa Maria Conceição, were the first people to build a house here; it was all forest. There was a lovely, huge brazilwood tree, which gave the place its name (pau brasil). Over time, other people built houses here and the place grew ... There was considerable trade with the surrounding hamlets, like Cantagalo, Arariba ..."
If his grandparents were the first to build, then there were no houses there previously. If there were no houses, then there was no village.
1957 aerial photograph taken by the Brazilian Coffee Institute (IBC)
Photo of the supposed village of Pau Brasil, showing just seven constructions. Historical records show that this was not an Indian village.
If his grandparents were the first to build, then there were no houses there previously. If there were no houses, then there was no village.
1957 aerial photograph taken by the Brazilian Coffee Institute (IBC)
Photo of the supposed village of Pau Brasil, showing just seven constructions. Historical records show that this was not an Indian village.
What the historians have to say
The area claimed was never inhabited by the Tupiniquim, who lived 140 km away.
The area claimed was never inhabited by the Tupiniquim, who lived 140 km away.
Map of the region
Evidence
Official Brazilian Census of 1920 and visual evidence reinforce the fact that there were no presence of Indian villages in the region of Aracruz (ES).
Official Brazilian Census of 1920 and visual evidence reinforce the fact that there were no presence of Indian villages in the region of Aracruz (ES).
See Also:
Aracruz's challenge
Aracruz Celulose has documents and data to challenge FUNAI's recomendation, wich for the third time in 30 years, is asking Aracruz to expand the Espírito Santo Indians reservation on the company's lands.
Aracruz's challenge
Aracruz Celulose has documents and data to challenge FUNAI's recomendation, wich for the third time in 30 years, is asking Aracruz to expand the Espírito Santo Indians reservation on the company's lands.
