Captain Potiguara receives honorary doctorate from UFPB Jaqueline Potiguara and Lauro Padilha/Reproduction The appreciation of traditional knowledge in the academic environment marks the award of the honorary doctorate from the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB) to leader Captain Potiguara. The tribute takes place this Friday (7), in João Pessoa. For the honoree, the recognition reflects a change in the institution's stance in relation to education and the indigenous presence and highlights that the university also has muot "The public university needs to understand that it also has a lot to learn from indigenous peoples. For a long time, the knowledge produced within universities was considered the most important knowledge, while the knowledge of traditional peoples was left aside. This needs to change. The university today is opening its doors to our knowledge", he stated. Born in Aldeia São Francisco, in Baía da Traição, José Cirático Sobrinho, known as Captain Potiguara, is 69 years old and began working at UFPB in the late 1970s, as an outsourced worker on Campus I. He later became a federal civil servant at the institution and, over the decades, contributed to strengthening indigenous agendas at the university through extension, research, teaching and student retention policies. One of his main contributions was the creation of the Indigenous Working Group (Indigenous GT). The initiative increased the visibility of these issues at the university and helped in the training of students and researchers.
Captain Potiguara receives title of Doctor Honoris Causa from UFPB: ‘University has a lot to learn from indigenous peoples’
Captain Potiguara receives honorary doctorate from UFPB Jaqueline Potiguara and Lauro Padilha/Reproduction The appreciation of traditional knowledge in the academic environment marks the award of the honorary doctorate...
He also played an important role in the internalization of UFPB and in the creation of Campus IV, in Rio Tinto, strengthening the implementation of courses focused on regional realities, such as Anthropology. The leader left a message of encouragement for indigenous youth. "I would say to them: don't be afraid to occupy these spaces. If you are a young indigenous person and have the dream of entering a university, go. Study, seek knowledge, but never be ashamed to say who you are. Youth are the future of our people. Therefore, study, occupy the spaces and come back to strengthen your communities", he said. Work in the indigenous movement In addition to his institutional work, Captain Potiguara worked in regularization processes for the Potiguara, Jacaré de São Domingos and Monte-Mór indigenous lands. He also participates in national mobilizations in defense of these people. He is nationally recognized for participating in organizations such as the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples and Organizations of the Northeast, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo (Apoinme). He actively works in spaces for discussion and formulation of public policies aimed at indigenous peoples. Most watched videos from g1 Paraíba
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