Mulheres kaingang : corpo-território e re-existência do bem-viver.

Abstract

This study investigates the experiences of Kaingang women through the notion of body territory and its connection to the pursuit of Buen Vivir (Well-being). The research analyzes the effects of deterritorialization, historical violence, and State neglect on these women's lives, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2024 floods, which exacerbated the social and environmental vulnerabilities faced by the community. The main objective was to understand how these experiences, articulated through the concept of body-territory, can contribute to the construction of a more plural, ethical, and decolonial Psychology one that recognizes and values Indigenous knowledge as legitimate foundations for understanding and practice. This is a qualitative and collaborative study, with a methodological approach inspired by the Váfy Methodology, developed from Kaingang handicrafts and the myth of the two suns. It involved participant observation, talking circles, and oral history records, all conducted with respect for the community’s timing and protocols. The findings show that territorial violence, the lack of effective public policies, and the impacts of climate change profoundly affect the ways of life and subjectivities of Kaingang women, revealing the limits of State responses in guaranteeing their fundamental rights. As interventions, talking circles were held with Indigenous women and Psychology students, along with thirteen meetings with the community group to listen to and systematize local demands. The research resulted in two technical products: a training course on Psychology and Indigenous knowledge, for replicating the proposed methodology. The study concludes that the knowledge and ways of being shared by Kaingang women reveal concrete alternatives to colonial and productivist logics and reinforce the commitment to a Psychology grounded in intercultural dialogue, social justice, and the appreciation of epistemic diversity.