Territorialidade e identidade em crianças da Comunidade Quilombola Moita Verde/RN: uma metodologia baseada na investigação-ação-participativa

Abstract

The aim of this research is to develop a methodological proposal oriented by Action-Participatory-Research (APR) for the work with children, focusing on the identity-territory relation. This proposal was based on an interest in encouraging children to listen to and value their contributions during the research process, so that the joint work between the researcher and her/his partners does not become unilateral, but horizontal, collaborative and ethically and politically committed to the autonomy of this social group. To this purpose, eight weekly group meetings were held, lasting approximately two hours, to discuss themes related to the three axis of identity for Antonio da Costa Ciampa: me-with-me, me-with-the-other, and me-with-the-world. The world here takes on the connotation of inhabited territory for Milton Santos: it encompasses the set of objects and actions that make up human space and can only be understood by taking into account the totality of social dynamics and their historical context. The understanding of territory that guides us, therefore, takes into account the occupation and territorial distribution mediated by the tentacles of the capitalist economy, the strength of its hegemonic spaces and the influence of racial and class dynamics, harboring contradictions and being the stage for disputes. In this study, I had the participation of four children, aged between 6 and 9, from the Moita Verde Quilombola Community (RN), where this methodology was developed. Photography, drawing, storytelling based on children's books and board games were used as methodological tools. The conclusion is that the methodology had the expected effects, and that the success of its application will always lie in the researcher's sensitivity and ethical commitment to identifying the demands of each territory and transforming them into thematic meetings to be worked on, as well as in their creative capacity to (re)elaborate and adapt the materials used according to the characteristics of the people taking part in and the context in which they are inserted.