Warao mobility in Brazil: from rights to negation

Abstract

This textual production aims to demonstrate, through the medium of comic books (specifically, the "Papa-Capim" story set in the Amazon rainforest, copyrighted by Maurício de Sousa), theoretical aspects of Ventura's (2018) work concerning the mobility and collective rights of the Warao indigenous people. Originating from the Orinoco Delta, Tucupita, Venezuela, they constitute the second most numerous indigenous group in the region and have emerged in the Brazilian migratory landscape over the past decade. Integrated into urban centers, they adopt collective means of subsistence as a form of resistance, do not adhere to the prevailing political system of their migratory destination, and, possessing agency, engage in cyclical movements according to their needs. Characteristic behaviors include soliciting money in streets and at traffic lights, typically dressed in their traditional attire and utilizing their native Warao language. Whether migrants or refugees, this population has sought improved living conditions. This situation has garnered significant attention at the state, political, national, and international levels; consequently, they continue to engage in constant movements towards neighboring countries such as Brazil and Colombia, among others.