Good bye

Winds of changes
a gate will open
we navigated in dreams
and expectations

every place
must bring enchants for the eyes
and touch the heart

dear Prestes Maia
symbol of many fights
and knowledge
we brought your name for the world
but it will remain in our hearts

there is a giant bird
that underneath of its wings
received us

here's the life's mirror
It's time to leave
good bye, dear Prestes Maia
we must leave you

the doors are closing
they cease the applauses
but it will be forever
kept in our memory.


Poem by Roberta Maria da Conceição,
who became a nice friend,
always opening her wings and home to receive me
at the Prestes Maia occupation.

the last days

the last days, originally uploaded by Tatiana Cardeal.

I've been visiting the Prestes Maia occupation these last weeks, to see how things are changing and give some pictures to the people. The progressive and pacific withdrawal of the families had started, and many had moved alredy to other buildings, at city's downtown. They will stay living in those new apartments for 6 months, with a government's fund help, until the "popular" (subsidized) buildings be finished to be inhabitable. Other group of families decided to move out of downtown, to a neighborhood that alredy have "popular" apartments, with the same government support.

Here is João, son of Severino and Roberta, still at his Prestes Maia's home during the lunch. They are going to stay until the last family leaves. They care about the Prestes Maia's library, and they have agreed that the library will be last thing to be moved out of the occupation. For where?
Well, this have been a theme of strong discussion between them,
but it's probably going to another occupation. Let's see.

They have asked to say that they are really thankful for all your support, all the faxes and letters you sent, and this really made a big difference here.

Yudjá song's guardian

Yudjá songs guardian, originally uploaded by Tatiana Cardeal.

Yudjá, also called as Juruna people, portray themselves as the prototype of humanity, as canoeists and beer makers. Part of the Yudjá's cosmological knowledge and ritual life rests on the crucial role of shamans; however, since the 1980s, they have had no more shamans. He worn a crucifix, and so many things have changed in his culture.

* when he posed for me, I though about a guardian spirit, and I couldn't understand why. Later, I saw him recording the chants of the festival.
Shall he be the song's guardian.

The Argentimes, Wolfy Becker and the VII Indigenous National Festival

>> cover


Last February, The Argentimes newspaper (Argentina), published a nice interview, talking about my photographic work, that was previously published at the LivinginPeru.com website (Peru). I've just found a link to download a copy, and now is here too (click to enlarge).
Many thanks to Lucy Cousins, the Co-Editor of The Argentimes.

Sadly, the LivinginPeru.com Executive Editor, Wolfgang Becker, who wrote this interview, and who gave a great support to my work, specially for the indigenous social issues, suffered a heart attack and passed away last 20th, april, 2007.
That day I was photographing the opening of VII Indigenous National Festival, a piece of my communication project to support Indigenous People, and which Wolfgang helped to promote. So I dedicate this next piece of my work to him.

Peru lost a true admirer of its culture, lifestyle, and most of all, its people.
(from LivinginPeru.com newsletter)

centurys

centurys, originally uploaded by Tatiana Cardeal.

VII Indigenous National Festival, at Bertioga city.
This year was the first time that they had an US indigenous delegation participating. To honor the meeting, two indigenous from America lighten the fire as a symbolic representation from the beginning of the Festival life, to all native cultures.
Here the Yawalapiti warrior from South-America beside the Tewa dancer from North-America, at the official opening.