The challenges of initial training of brazilian indigenous students in times of pandemic

Abstract

Nowadays, the calamity that humanity is going through in the pandemic caused by the Covid-19 virus has led to social isolation, with a great impact in the area of Education, through the suspension of classroom activities in Brazilian schools and universities. Then, some obstacles appeared, such as the difficulties faced by students regarding access to the minimum structure for participation in classes through Information and Communication Technologies. In this context, the present study aims to reflect on how indigenous students of the Mathematics Degree course at the Federal University of Tocantins (UFT) and the indigenous students of the Indigenous Teachers Degree course at the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) come developing their academic and research activities in dark times. In this sense, we take as a starting point the following question: What is the impact of the pandemic caused by Covid-19 on the process of initial training of indigenous students in Intercultural and Mathematics courses in the states of Amazonas and Tocantins? For this purpose, we aim to understand the ways of study and research of indigenous students in intercultural and Mathematics courses in the context of the suspension of face-to-face classes. The study has a qualitative approach based on ethnographic research. Narratives about the participants’ training – indigenous students of the indigenous people Xambioá/TO/Brazil, Kokama/AM/Brazil and Baniwa/AM/Brazil – were collected and analyzed via Sociocultural Diagnostic of Future Mathematics Indigenous Teachers. Our reflective considerations highlight that, despite living in different places with their own different cultures and holistic world view, these indigenous peoples have a unity in strength and willingness to conquer their space and seek training based on critical, investigative and reflective stance , even in the face of adverse situations in which they live, in times not only of obscurantism in public policies, but, especially in times of pandemic.