Necropolítica indigenista e as agências indígenas no Piauí imperial (1822-1845)

Abstract

From documents collected in the Public Archives of Piauí, it was possible to observe the indigenous presence in the territory of Piauí during the 19th century, in diferent situations of contact. These correspondences present the indigenous peoples of the then province of Piauí as a problem, an obstacle, and a disturbance to the peace of the population of Piauí at the time. These discourses created a scenario in which indigenous peoples were portrayed as an obstacle and a political problem. The context analyzed is part of the process of Brazil's independence in 1822, until the promulgation of the first regulation of the 19th-century indigenous policy in 1845. We analyzed the construction of a policy aimed especially at the indigenous peoples of the so-called hinterlands, who were the target of violent military expeditions based on colonial principles. In this way, we were able to relate the indigenous policy adopted by the authorities of Piauí during the years 1822 to 1845 to the indigenous peoples of the hinterlands based on Mbembe's (2018) concept of necropolitics. Although Mbembe's context of analysis is different, the author demonstrates that this is a practice with colonial roots and, therefore, fits into the framework proposed here. We will also use the concept of genocide as developed by Moreira (2020), which deals with the genocide conceived and practiced by the Brazilian state against the indigenous population during the 19th century. In addition to the violence practiced, we will highlight the forms of resistance of indigenous peoples in the face of indigenist necropolitics.