THE TREMEMBÉ OF BURITI AND SÍTIO SÃO JOSÉ AND ‘NEW ATLÂNTIDA – TOURIST CITY AND RESIDENTIAL RESORT’: INCLUSION/EXCLUSION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES?

Abstract

This article is about the situation faced by the Tremembé of Buriti and Sítio São José communities in the municipality of Itapipoca - Ceará, in relation to an international tourist mega-project imposed on these indigenous peoples. The conflicts brought onto these communities have caused tensions within families. Many are denying that they are Indians, as they capitulate to co-optation in exchange for wages offered by the entrepreneurs and, are also denying the existence of Indians in these comunities. Yet others are organising themselves as ‘Indians’ to claim land rights by the State in view of the threat posed by this mega-project. I take the opportunity to expand this discussion on indigenous peoples and tourism at the interface of Geography and Anthropology, and also to identify the advance of governmental and/or private tourist projects on Indian Lands in Brazil. Key-words: Indigenous peoples, tourism, Tremembé, governmental/private projects.