Abstract
This article analyzes forest extractivism in Rio Negro, Amazonas, based on ethnographic fieldwork in Barcelos (2007-2017), document analysis and a bibliographical review. I investigate the narratives of naturalist scientific expeditions, colonial administrators, developmentalist state policies, and indigenous social movements. I focus on the historical relations of domination and resistance between indigenous peoples, the state and merchant ‘patrons.’ The state and merchant patrons have coerced indigenous peoples since the colonial “drogas do sertão” herb extractivism. Currently, merchant patrons keep indigenous laborers in debt-bondage under the “aviamento” system. Indigenous peoples have confronted labor indenture by fleeing, defaulting on forged debt, and, currently, judicializing their claims.
Keywords:
extractivism; debt bondage; confrontation; indigenous peoples