According to professor Maria Leda Vieira de Sousa the objective of the course is to “train and certify teachers at the mid-level, enabling them to enter the teaching profession in elementary and childhood education”.

 

The course also proposes capacitation of indigenous teachers for developing “bilingual and intercultural school studies”. The orientation axis of the course, according to Leda is “Tekoha, Ñe’e and Teko” meaning ‘traditional land, language and culture’. Instruction is based on research and has two stages: classroom work during the week and intersession that is conducted in the villages where the teachers go to work with students.

 

“Ara Verá” means “Time, Illuminated Space”; long a dream of the indigenous peoples and their allies who work in the area of education, among them ex-missionary from CIMI Veronise Rossato Lobato.

 

The course has been developed in the region of Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul. The course is organized by the Centro de Formação de Professores Indígenas de Mato Grosso do Sul, part of the State Secretary of Education. Among other innovatove aspects that make the course possible, is the co-operation between the State Secretary for Education and the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD). Without the fundamental support of university professors the course would not exist: they voluntarily dedicate their free time to teach classes for the indigenous students.

 

 

Dream becomes reality

Everything began with pioneers going from village to village with the objective of teaching reading. Some people, among them the state deputy Pedro Kemp, became sensitive to the necessity to fight for a specific indigenous education that addressed the cultural specifics of the Guarani People. After several Aty Guasu (large assemblies), in which the matter was discussed, the Escola Guaicurus was created for the certification of teachers.

 

In 1999 the Ára Verá course was initiated and the first class graduated in 2002. In 2006 a total of 56 indigenous teachers were certified in basic education and by 2010 the third class prepares for the graduation of 73 educators.

 

The Saturday July 24, the Ára Verá course celebration included presentation and baptism of the Guarani Retã land map that “is an introduction to the world of the Guarani of today in the border regions of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay”. The map, in combination with a booklet with basic and historic information about the Guarani people is the result of an international collaboration in support of identifying and reinvigorating knowledge about the Guarani people.