Brazil Tours and Travel

Wazu´ri´wá Project Tour- 7 nights

Wazu´ri´wá is the warrior that goes in front of the rest to scout the territory, to define a path, to understand the place,
to learn from the journey, from nature and the other cultures he will find, in order to become stronger and
take what he has learned back home to prepare the path for the rest of the village

The Wazu´ri´wá Project for visiting the Etenhiritipá village (about 300 people in Indigenous Land Pimentel Barbosa, Municipal District of Canarana, Mato Grosso) is one more strategy of the Xavante People to keep their traditions and territory for the future generations. They, that led the contact with the warazu (the foreigner) in the 40th decade as a form of physical and cultural survival, now search for new alternatives for maintenance, valorization and promotion of their thoughts and way of living. The decision of creating a visitation program is a result of a lot of thinking and precautions. It went through studies and planning in association with the 'Faculdade de Turismo e Hotelaria do Senac' (Senac School of Tourism and Hotel Business) and today takes form in this iniciative that is coordinated by IDETI (Indian Traditions Institute NGO in partnership with Indian nations in Brazil) and has the support of our operator.

The Xavante people call themselves A'uwe Uptabi, the true people. There are about 12 thousand people living in several villages, in 6 different reserves: São Marcos, Sangradouro, Parabubure, Couto Magalhães, Areões and Rio das Mortes. They speak the language A' uewe, from the linguistic trunk Jê.

Until almost halfway through the last century, the Xavantes lived in a territory between the rivers Araguaia and Tocantins. Because of persecution, they moved to a land located between the River Coluene and Rio das Mortes (River of Deaths), in the state of Mato Grosso. Their territory is a region of fields called "cerrado" (savannah) where the seasons are well defined: dry and wet season.

The traditional Xavante Village has the shape of a horseshoe, with the open side in the river's direction. In the centre there is a great square, the Warã, where the men gather and where the big decisions are made by the Ancient Council. At one end of the Village there is the Hö (House of the Adolescents), where the traditions from the A'uwe Uptabi are passed on. The young people stay in the Hö for about 5 years. During this period they learn from their godfathers to make their own ornaments, survival practices like hunting and fishing, the myths and traditions.

In a circular shape, the traditional Xavante house is made of tree trunk and bamboo, that sustain the walls made of "babaçu" leaves. The door is located to the centre of the village. In the centre of the house is the fire, burning almost all the time. In the old days, the house was rebuilt every 4 or 5 years in a new place. One house shelters one couple and up to 2 or 3 recently-married daughters with their husbands and children. It is the kingdom of the women. The women are responsible for preparing and distributing the products from hunting and from the harvest. The men stay most of the time in the court or hunting.

The village is divided in two clans: öwawe (big water) and poreza'õno (tadpole). Weddings are only allowed between members from different clans, reinforcing their conviviality. Besides this, the Xavantes have a hierarchical division based on age categories.

Nowadays, many villages are experiencing the weakening of traditions, suffering the disfiguration of their rituals, of their way of thinking, and of the way they build and live. The reserves 'Rio das Mortes' and 'Areões' are one of the few examples of villages that managed to preserve their ancestral memory, passed on generation to generation.

1st day – saturday - .../GOIANIA – RIBEIRÃO CASCALHEIRA – Arrival in the airport of Goiânia and transfer to the Bus Station of Goiânia. Optional stop for dinner. Departure at 23h, in night bus with toilet to the state of Mato Grosso, in a journey of aproximately 11 hours. Overnight on board.

2nd day - sunday - MATINHA – ALDEIA ETENHIRITIPA – Stop for breakfast (not included) and arrival in the Matinha village at around 11am. Matinha is the support basis of our operation, located on the boarder of the indigenous territory. Lunch in this place and departure after 14h30 in tractioned vehicle, to go through 40 km of dirt road, to the indigenous village. Following the project developed by the community, the visitors will not be accommodated inside the village, but in a close area, where a traditional house (oca) was specialy built for tourism purposes with some modifications, such as bathroom and kitchen. During the visitors stay, there will be a cook preparing all meals, according to the traditional Brazilian menu (rice, beans, meat, fish, fruits and vegetables) more familiar to them. During the week, a dinner inside the village is programed, following the indigenous traditions. Accommodation in the 'oca' in sleeping bag or hammocks. In this first evening, the leaders of the village will reception the visitors and invite them to a first visit to the village. Dinner in camp.

3rd to 6th day – monday to thursday - ALDEIA ETENHIRITIPA – Activities with the community getting to know a little of their rich culture. It is part of the Brazilian indigenous culture the interpretation of dreams as a determinative factor to their routine. This means that the daily activities are established at dawn, according to the dreams of that night. During the days of visits, we'll perform hikings in the savannah, go up the 'Serra do Roncador' (Roncador Mountain Range), have festive activities in the village, fishing and cultivation, always on the presence and guidence of indigenous guides and a bilingual Ambiental guide.

7th day – friday - ALDEIA ETENHIRITIPA– MATINHA – After breakfast, departure to Matinha, where we'll take the night bus to Goiânia. Overnight on board.

8th day – saturday - GOIÂNIA/... - Arrival in the Bus Station of Goiânia and transfer to the airport for flight.

Rate per person - until JUN 2009 - Based on at least 4 passengers - R$ 4324 (that currently = US$2014. US$ price may vary according to exchange rate)

Part of this amount will be destined to the fund created and managed by the community, for maintenance and structure of this Sustainable Tourism Project.

Included:
* transfer airport of Goiânia/Bus Station/airport;
* bus ticket for night trip to/from Matinha;
* transfer to/from indigenous area;
* 5 nights in camp close to indigenous area, with full board;
* all activities;
* bilingual guide during trip.

Not included:
air tickets, meals in Goiânia and during the bus trip (meals during tranfers), phone calls and other personal expenses

DATES FOR DEPARTURE IN 2009: April 18-25, May 9-16, June 6-13, July 11-18 and 18-25, Aug. 8-15, Sept. 5-12, Oct. 10-17

minimum of 4 people - maximum of 10 people in every departure

Rules and recommendations
Never walk alone.
It is strictly forbiden to take or consume alcoholic beverages inside the indigenous area.

What to take
Hiking shoes.
Electric flashlight - Bring back the batteries used to give them an appropriate end.
Light clothes.
Warm clothes for the night (temperature drops in the evening).
Sleeping bag or hammock.
Sheets and blanket.
Towel for bath, soap and other personal objects.

Phone: 800-232-5658 or 1-512-443-5393 email

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Brazil Tours and Travel

Wazu´ri´wá Project Tour- 7 nights

Phone: 800-232-5658 or
1-512-443-5393
email