Kaingang community preserves culture through new book
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In Porto Alegre, Brazil, the Gah Re village hosted a launch event for “Gaton, A Força da Terra” (Gaton, The Strength of the Earth), a book documenting the history, memories, and knowledge of the Kaingang people.
Kapri Audisséia Nascimento Padilha authored the book, drawing heavily on stories from her mother, Cacica Iracema Gãh Té Nascimento, a political and spiritual leader of the village. Anthropologists Ana Letícia Meira Schweig and Geórgia Macedo assisted with editing, graphic design, and cultural production.
The project involved both mother and daughter selecting narratives and topics important to the Kaingang community. Kapri and Iracema included the next generation by having the Cacica’s grandchildren create illustrations inspired by the stories they heard from elders, strengthening community bonds and cultural preservation. The Gah Re community retook control of the Morro Santana territory in 2022 and hopes the book will reach Brasília and influence legal discussions regarding indigenous land rights.
Cacica Iracema expressed concern that younger generations are losing connection to their traditions and believes the book may encourage reflection. A second launch event will take place at the Institute of Philosophy and Human Sciences (IFCH/UFRGS) on September 16.
