As paisagens das terras de Santa Tereza: geodiversidade e identidade cultural no quilombo Itamatatiua, Alcântara - MA

Abstract

The landscape is endowed with the elements of geodiversity and impregnated with relations with society, circumscribing man in time and space by recording impressions of culture and the identity of communities. The Quilombola community of Itamatatiua, located in the municipality of Alcântara, has its landscape evidenced by elements of geodiversity and biodiversity in an intrinsic relationship with the productive activities of the resident population, manifested through the practices of traditional extractive and agricultural culture, and the manifestations and expressions directed to religious, artistic and leisure practices, such as, for example, the best-known festival of the community in honor of Santa Tereza d'Ávila that traditionally takes place in the area. The community inherited significant cultural traits from its origin and ancestors that are composed by the production of ceramics, the creole drum, the feast of São Sebastião, the celebration of the patron Santa Tereza d'Ávila and other habits and customs that are considered as a manifestation of expression and resistance, reflecting experiences of the Itamatatiua reality. To reach the objectives established for the research, the methodological paths followed seek to outline the present study, based on the phenomenological method, being a bibliographic research and field study. The general objective established for this research is to understand the importance of the Quilombo of Itamatatiua’s landscape as an element of the construction of the cultural identity of the residents of the area. The guiding line of investigation was based on the inquiry about the following aspects: is the landscape one of the most important elements for the construction of the cultural identity of the inhabitants of Quilombo Itamatatiua? And that, considering its dynamic character, any changes may reveal corresponding changes in the identity of the residents? The landscapes of the Quilombo Itamatatiua represent a close relationship between residents and geodiversity through conscious uses, transformations and attributions that give these elements to culture, identity and the perpetuation of memory. Significant changes in these elements directly influence the traditions, daily activities and livelihoods of families. The residents' belief in being located in sacred lands, the narratives about the desires and visits of Santa Tereza in the quilombo and the myths incorporated to protect the natural elements, generate sustainable care for the landscapes. These facts reveal the inherent relationship between man and the earth, expressing affective bonds built through faith, narratives, myths, the sacralization of the elements that give rise to the sacred space of Itamatatiua.