Mariana Villas-Bôas

This project was born from the need to demonstrate the massacre of indigenous culture. The narrative emerges from the earth, representing the birth of a genuine being, in symbiosis with nature, who will go through a process of searching for identity. It is the fight for indigenous inclusion in society without giving up ancestry. “R-exist” is the hope of rebirth for the next indigenous generations.

A manifest performance of the artist and activist Zahy Guajajara, who tell us her life story to relate the journey of indigenous peoples’ struggle for “R-existence”. She speaks about the Guardians of the Forests, a group of Guajajara who fight for the preservation of the forests. Telling us how they resist to protect the Guajajara indigenous people; ancestors; and rituals. The Guardians of the Forest in Arariboia – Maranhão also protect the Awá Guajá, Indigenous who don’t have any contact with western civilization. The intensified deforestation caused by the fires set by groups of hunters and loggers is exhausting their water and food reserves. Since Bolsonaro became president of Brazil, five of the Forest Guardians have been murdered.