Anna Kurowicka

The aim of this Engaged Anthropology project was to establish the Pataxó Territorial Observatory, a specialized team focused on indigenous territorial monitoring. Comprising two young Pataxó individuals and an anthropologist, the team operated under the guidance of the Council of Chiefs of the Barra Velha do Monte Pascoal Indigenous Territory. The Observatory’s primary commitment was to support the Pataxó in their process of ‘self-demarcation’ of ancestral lands, thereby bolstering their efforts to reclaim territory. The team acquired proficiency in advanced technologies including drones, georeferencing tools, satellite imagery, and mapping software. They provided invaluable assistance to Pataxó leaders by elucidating the administrative boundaries pertinent to the demarcation process and producing detailed maps of reclaimed territories. The documentation generated by the Observatory served to validate the legitimacy of ‘self-demarcation’ initiatives before state authorities. Collaboration with the Council of Chiefs fostered a culture of transparency and mutual trust, crucial in the midst of ongoing territorial disputes. Beyond the project’s duration, the Pataxó Territorial Observatory intends to sustain its efforts, seeking continued support for its initiatives. This engaged approach to fieldwork has introduced novel dimensions to anthropological research on contemporary processes of territorialization within Pataxó lands.