Situation of Indigenous Peoples in Mato Grosso do Sul
INDIGENIST MISSIONARY COUNCIL - CIMI
tume
through a situation of "not yet" and at the same time it is a state of
"already", because the perfect land, without evils and with personal
perfection is achieved in the walk to reestablish reciprocity.
Thus, if the walk in search of the Land without Evil, guarantees the
betterment and perduration of relations in quality of reciprocity, it
no longer has a utopian character, but is rather a "stable place on
which the Guaraní feet stand".
In the land without evils, concrete characteristics such as
ecology and economics predominate but in refined balance
and this requires an ample horizon and spirituality; both being
indispensable for harmonious Good Living. In other words, both
the land and the Guarani are constitutionally oriented for the
plenitude/fulfillment of its being, and succeed only if they coexist
in reciprocity and harmony for both. The cross spiritually orients
their permanent disposition of being the walking journey in search
of balance that is one Land Without Evils. This being on the walk
is the way of being Guarani. The Guarani still today maintain their
principles of an economy of reciprocity and their fidelity to the
particular mode of thinking and to live their Guarani culture.
The conviction of being able to reach the land without evils by
means of being on a walk/journey is born of their responsibility of
eco-humanizing the community and the earth so as to arrive united
in plenitude/fulfillment.
In walking in the direction of the land without evils one lives with
what is strictly necessary to maintain and strengthen community
ties through a permanent practice of reciprocity, favored through
necessity. There is spiritual consciousness of forming a part - as a
"small portion" - of the divine wisdom that illuminates them in the
quest for the plenitude/fulfillment of life. This interrelationship we
can call "Guarani Good Living".
Good Living, as alternative to the current system
a) A modern Constitution is possible with their own roots
The national Constitutions of Ecuador and Bolivia teach us
that in this historical moment it is necessary to be based in the
fundamentals of their own identity. They therefore elect their
originary utopia of society as foundation of the modern nation.
They demonstrated that it is possible to construct a national
indigenous project without the need to adhere to the strategies of
the North.
Attention is called to the fact that the originary peoples have
not forgotten their ancestral dream of coexistence and have
transmitted this, for more than five centuries, from one generation
to another with the hope of someday being able to revive it because
they consider it valid for all times.
b) Challenge of articulation
The example of the Guarani people that we present here shows
us that this dream of Good Living is shared by all the originary
peoples of Abya Yala. Our challenge is to seek in each culture
the matrix/word generator that, in the example of the Guarani
people, would be the path in the search of the land without evils.
For the originary peoples of our continent to affirm themselves in
this millennial ancestral dream, it is necessary that they meet and
exchange their ancestral experiences, to respect and be enriched
in the diversity of the aspects and foundations. The second step
would be to enter into dialogue with the national society that has
its own project, to recognize the weaknesses of each one and to
develop strategies that will lead to recognition of the contributions
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