The Headdress and the Pen: The indigenous intellectual struggle in military Brazil

Abstract

This article analyzes the crucial role of indigenous intellectuals in resisting the Brazilian military regime and building the post-dictatorship indigenous movement. It highlights how these figures used their intellectual production and activism to challenge repressive policies, preserve indigenous cultures, and seek self-determination. The study examines the formation of resistance movements, their influence on public policy formulation, and their impact on academia. Through a qualitative approach based on literature review and document analysis, the article explores the contributions of leaders such as Ailton Krenak, Davi Kopenawa, and Sônia Guajajara. It concludes that indigenous intellectuals left a lasting legacy, promoting intercultural dialogue, challenging established power structures, and contributing to the construction of a less unequal and more inclusive society, with impacts extending into the post-dictatorship period.