Learning and Growing in indigenous Amazonia. The Education System of French Guyana Wayana-Apalaï communities

El presente trabajo quiere describir los efectos que pueden tener las políticas educativas del Estado cuando se imponen sin consultar previamente a la ciudadanía. Para entender el impacto del esquema escolar moderno sobre las dinámicas familiares tradicionales, se ha realizado un trabajo etnográfico de larga duración con una comunidad indígena Wayana-Apalaï, en Guayana francesa, enfocado hacia la observación de las prácticas educativas en ámbito doméstico. A partir de una interpretación crítica del contexto poscolonial, los datos recogidos parecen demostrar la hipótesis que los Wayana-Apalaï están sufriendo un proceso de transfiguración étnica, con un impacto muy profundo en su estilo de vida tradicional, en los esquemas comunitarios de formación de los jóvenes y en el desarrollo social de los niños. Palabras clave (UNESCO ISIS Thesaurus): Antropología de la educación, Cambio cultural, Descolonización, Educación y cultura, Escolaridad obligatoria, Guayana francesa, Identidad cultural, Medio familiar, Población indígena, Política educacional. Resumo: Este trabalho tem como objetivo descrever os efeitos que podem ter políticas educacionais do Estado, quando imposta, sem consultar as cidadanias. Para compreender o impacto da escolas moderna sobre a dinâmica da família tradicional, tem havido um longo trabalho etnográfico com uma comunidade indígena Wayana-Apalaï, em Guiana Francesa, com foco de observação das práticas educativas na arena doméstica. A partir de uma interpretação crítica do contexto pós-colonial, os dados recolhidos parecem provar a hipótese de que os Wayana-Apalaï estão passando por um processo de transfiguração étnica, com um impacto profundo em seu estilo de vida tradicional, em os esquemas de formação da juventude e no desenvolvimento social das crianças. Palavras chave: Antropologia da Educação, Mudança cultural, Descolonização, Educação e Cultura, Escolaridade obrigatória, Guiana Francesa, Identidade Cultural, Ambiente Familiar, Povos Indígenas, Política Educacional. Abstract: This paper aims to describe the effects of a European industrialized country educative policy applied in a post-colonial context: a Wayana-Apalaï indigenous community in French Guiana. To understand the impact of modern schooling scheme on native family dynamics, we realized a long-term fieldwork, observing care-giving and parenting style. Based on a critical analysis of socio-economic and historical context, we interpreted the ethnographic data as demonstrating the hypothesis that Wayana-Apalaï have been involved in a process of Ethnic Transfiguration having a deep impact on traditional lifestyle, on community schemes for youth training and education and, last but not least, on child social development. Keywords: Compulsory education, French Guiana, Family environment, Indigenous people, Cultural identity, Decolonization, Cultural change, Education and culture, Educational anthropology, Educational Policy Read more on Academia.edu

Alì Maurizio Université de la Polynésie française - Laboratoire Sociétés Traditionnelles et Contemporaines en Océanie (EASTCO, EA 4241) This lecture presents a first attempt to describe an emergent dynamic: the transformation of family educational practices among Wayana-Apalaï indigenous people of French Guiana. Ethnographic data collected between 2010 and 2013 show a large set of variations concerning care-giving time, house-keeping charges or the frequency of traditional activities. Taking into the account the role of schooling and based on a critical analysis of the socio-economic and historical context, the authors interpreted the data as demonstrating the hypothesis that Wayana-Apalaï have been involved in a process of Ethnic Transfiguration which in return has had a deep impact on traditional lifestyle, on community schemes for youth training and education and, last but not least, on child social development. Read more on Academia.edu Video on YouTube.

Alì Maurizio Université de la Polynésie française - Laboratoire Sociétés Traditionnelles et Contemporaines en Océanie (EASTCO, EA 4241) This lecture (co-authored with Professor Rodica Ailincai) presents the first results obtained from an exploratory study conducted with a Wayana-Apalaï indigenous community living the High Maroni region, in French Guiana. The study is situated within an ecological and interactionist approach and attempts (1) to understand educational family practices and community logic of children training (2) to describe parents' expectations vis-à-vis their children as a postmodern dynamic. The ethnographic corpus was gathered during a period of five years with the aim to link observed behaviors with contextual and cultural variables. Following the analysis of the data, the authors propose a diagram of a) the micro-systems structuring the Wayana-Apalaï kinship system; b) a description of parental roles and educational functions; c) an overview of parental expectations in terms of "traditional success"/ "school success ".   Keywords: parenting, cultural minority, traditional success, school success, French Guiana Wayana.   Read more on Academia.edu Video on YouTube