Com quantos paus se faz uma canoa: um estudo da canoa caiçara

Abstract

The simple dugout canoe considered, by far, the best vehicle for fishing, is doomed to desapear in a very short time because of three main factors: 1) the interruotion, in the oral transmition system, of the manufacturing process; 2) the lack of interest, by part of the possible helrs of this knowledg, due to the little profit it brings; 3) the expensiveness and difficulty to obtain an adequated log to build a canoe. The communities that live on artisanal fishing are largely unaware of the danger that hovers over their autonomy with the invasion of technologies alien to their environment. In order to eliminate the risk of imbalance and consequent loss of their own cultural values, it is necessary to record the manufacturing techniques of these vessels that are traditionally under the full control of naval carpenter craftsmen. The present work makes a record through a field research carried out with some builders raising the whole process of manufacture and preservation of monoxyl canoes, aiming the generation of a document, to be returned to these communities to benefit from the knowledge inserted in it. . Along with these graphic records are proposed solutions to enable the non-predatory economic continuity of the construction of these vessels.