Our Ancestries are Sacred

Abstract

This article recounts the experience of a young Kayapó indigenous man who migrated from the Amazon rainforest to São Paulo, highlighting the challenges of belonging and the forms of racism faced in urban contexts. Through an autobiographical narrative, the text exposes the contradictions of colonial discourse: while indigenous peoples are expected to "modernize," those who access universities and technologies are questioned in their authenticity. The author describes his free childhood in Amapá, contrasting it with the hostility encountered in the metropolis—from environmental alienation to school bullying targeting his cultural traits. The account reaches its climax when describing an episode of academic racism during his Law degree, when his identity was challenged based on stereotypes. Despite assimilation pressures, the author emphasizes the importance of cultural resistance and activism, showing how he reconnected with his roots through the indigenous movement. More than a personal testimony, the text becomes a manifesto about the contemporary struggle for indigenous rights and the right to self-defined identity.