History and memory: the Ka'apor's protagonism in Maranhao

The history and the memory of indigenous peoples are directly associated with the construction of national identity in Brazil. Although the State's actions have been extremely violent in an attempt to silence the oldest inhabitants of the territory, the protagonism of the original peoples in the society in which they participate is undeniable. In the text, at first, the historiographical debate in this regard is presented, and, later, the discussion about the relevance of everyday life in the preservation of memory is inserted. After that, it is then shown how the Ka'apor indigenous peoples, in Maranhao, produced, evoked and maintained their traditions, even though they were harassed by persecution and forced to migrate constantly for three centuries.