Notas sobre agenciamento glotopolítico: relatos de ação pela autoestima e pelos direitos linguísticos dos Mebêngôkre por eles mesmos

Abstract

This research analyzes the glotopolitical negotiation of the Mebêngôkre (Kayapó) in the municipality of São Félix do Xingu (PA), highlighting actions aimed at the preservation and strengthening of the language, such as the co-officialization of Mebêngôkre through Municipal Law No. 571/2019, as well as outreach actions developed in partnership with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), including Me Kunī Umari and Ponte Digital. The main objective is to investigate the symbolic, social, and political impacts of these initiatives, emphasizing the agency of the speakers themselves in the conservation and recognition of their indigenous language. The study is grounded in the principles of critical glotopolitics, demonstrating how linguistic practices are intertwined with power struggles, identity construction, and public policies. The methodology includes documentary analysis, bibliographic review, and accounts of experiences lived by the author as a member of the outreach project and staff member of the Department of Indigenous School Education (DEEI). The results point to the urgent need for more effective and participatory language policies, focused on addressing linguistic inequality, training indigenous teachers, developing bilingual materials, and promoting genuinely intercultural practices. The experience reveals significant contributions to the recognition of indigenous people’s linguistic rights, reinforcing the importance of institutionalizing the Mebêngôkre language as a means of cultural preservation, authority, and durability.