Da seringa à farinhada: produção e modo de vida na Reserva Extrativista Riozinho da Liberdade, Vale do Juruá – Acre

Abstract

This work has as its objective to observe the dynamics of social relations networks in order to verify how people and groups build strategies to ensure the reproduction of their social, cultural and economic practices in communities localized in Extractive Reserve (RESEX) Riozinho da Liberdade, Alto Juruá, Acre. For such, I use the concept of social networks as method strategy and techniques such as observant participation in the communities Morro da Pedra and periquito. Photos, interviews, genealogies and keeping a field notebook were also techniques used. I initially address the historical and social intricacies that culminated in the formation of the Vale do Juruá’s rubber tapper settlements in the Juruá Valley, Acre, based on a brief historical overview of events that range from the first rubber cycle with the establishment of the rubber plantation (1870-1912), until its collapse, when there was an end to protectionist rubber policies and the advance of the border in the Acre Amazon at the end of the 20th century, a moment in which the political and economic interests of the Brazilian State towards the Amazon changed, which started to encourage its colonization and finance infrastructure projects that have come to threaten the way of life of people from traditional communities, a situation that has led to a series of local conflicts in Acre. At this time, the rubber tappers' social movement emerged as a form of resistance, which was initially organized and represented by the Rural Workers' Union (STR). Union stations in rubber tapper settlements, as well as Rubber Tapper’s National Council (CNS) and local associations, were founded during this time, which came to enhance their struggle. The rubber tapper’s social movement established alliances with indigenous peoples, the environmental movement, international organisms and other institutions, pressuring the Brazilian State to recognize their social and territorial rights to put an end to the system of trading outposts managed by landlords (barracões) and to create the RESEXs. At RESEX Riozinho da Liberdade, created in 2005 after another decade of struggle, the end of the extractive activity as the main source of income brought with it a period of changes. The rubber tappers began to dedicate themselves to agriculture, cultivating mainly manioc flour. Families migrate from settlements in the interior of the forest (colocações) and gather on the banks of the Riozinho da Liberdade, where public institutions began to operate in the 1990s, influencing the formation of communities that exist today on the banks of the river. It is observed that between the period of colocações and now there are structural continuities in the way in which domestic groups build their exchange and kinship relationships. Until today relationships of asymmetric trading (aviamento) occurs, but the immobilization of labor as was previously the case in the rubber plantations no longer occurs. The creation of RESEX assured territorial rights, but not new sources of income based on extractivism, which has been worked on by new associations, albeit in an incipient form. Local networks based on kinship, reciprocity, supply and assistance are important to guarantee production, marketing, food and assistance in times of difficulty. In this way, guaranteeing security, social and economic stability to domestic groups.