A política indigenista em Minas Gerais : apropriações do diretório (1758-1808)

Abstract

This dissertation proposes to analyse how the Directorio que se deve observar nas Povoaçoens dos Indios do Pará, e Maranhão em quanto Sua Magestade não mandar o contrario, was employed in the Captaincy of Minas Gerais, on the one hand, by the indigenous population and, on the other, by the colonial authorities and by other inhabitants, comparing their political actions, between 1758 and 1808. The work has been developed in three chapters. The first one focuses on the historiographical dimension, being devoted both to the trajectory of the indigenous historiography in Brazil, in general, and to the indigenous historiography of the Captaincy of Minas Gerais in the XVIII century. The second chapter presents a synthesis of the indigenous legislation from the XVI century and its application until the beginning of the XIX century. The third chapter deals with how the colonial Indians have made use of the legislative framework on behalf of themselves, as well with their discourses and the resulting reclamation of identity. We conclude that, in spite of the asymmetrical condition established in the process of colonization, they were aware of their political actions. They were able to deal with it and to insert themselves into the two categories available for them, that is, they reaffirmed themselves as indigenous and, at the same time, as vassals of the Crown, assuming the obligations deriving from it, but also obtaining the rights, extended somewhat with the specifications guaranteed by their 'Indian quality'.