Auritha Tabajara: Indigenous Writer Navigates Urban Displacement and Ancestral Identity in São Paulo

Auritha, a 38-year-old writer from the Tabajara people, relocated from her village in Ceará to São Paulo following the end of a relationship. Her official name was registered as Aurilene by white authorities, but she uses her ancestral name, which means 'stone of light.' Upon arrival, she experienced shock at the urban density and pollution of Avenida Paulista. Her creative process, which traditionally involves writing under trees at night, has been constrained in the city. Her 2010 book, 'Magistério Indígena em Verso e Prosa,' born from her teaching studies, has been adopted as mandatory reading in Ceará's public schools. In São Paulo, she conducts storytelling sessions in schools, where she faced prejudice from a teacher who stereotyped Indigenous people. She also experienced racism while preparing for university entrance exams at a PUC preparatory course, which led her to abandon her dream of studying Literature temporarily. Auritha is the granddaughter of storyteller Francisca Gomes and is a healer, using ancestral knowledge of herbs. She successfully registered her daughter with an ancestral name despite resistance from the registry office. Her work and identity are deeply rooted in her connection to her ancestors and territory.