Science in the Amazon: João Paolo Pareto

“Yobori“ Yipamacha is the name in the Aboriginal language (commonly known as Tucano) for the doctor in anthropology Joao Paulo Lima Barreto from the Federal University of Amazonas (Ufam). The philosopher and professor was born in São Gabriel da Cachoeira, in the Alto Río Negro, in the western Amazon. He is the fifth character in the latest documentary in the “Ciência na Amazônia” series, produced by Amazonia Real, within the framework of the project.

In the documentary, João Paulo gives an emotional and stunning description of the main characteristics of his people, recalls the years of oppression under Catholic colonialism, talks about his academic training, and narrates in detail the establishment of Panserikoy – Center for Indian Medicine, Founded in 2017.

The anthropologist and philosopher was born in the community of Ʉremiripa (Corredeira do Rouxinol, in Portuguese), which Catholic missionaries called São Domingos. The history of the community’s families is marked by the Catholic intervention in the complex formation of the local indigenous population.

“We have three specialists who make up the community: Yai, Como and Paya. They are like an educational institution. They are social mediators and politicians. When the church arrived, the first thing they did was destroy it. It prevents us from continuing with our institutions. “Destroying means ending communities,” João Paulo said in the interview. “And they began to put the Portuguese language as a model for social life, a model for civilized life, and a model for intellectual life. I was born in that period. I am the result of this cultural imposition.”

The “Science in the Amazon” series, directed by journalist Katia Brazil, co-founder of Amazonia Real, received financial support from the Instituto Serrapilhera. The first episode was released on December 10th with the address “man of nature” It was filmed by the American scientist Philip Martin Fernside who lived in the Amazon for 40 years. Anthropologist and linguist Anna Carla Bruno also participated in the series “Beyond the Resistance”; Epidemiologist Jessim Orellana with the episode “The epidemiologist who faced denial”; and historian Patricia Melo with the episode “Breaking the Silence”.

In the series, Amazon scientists recount how they faced forced silencing, denial, attacks, and a lack of resources during the four years of Jair Bolsonaro’s government. It also deals with topics such as prejudice, resistance in the face of hardship, and future prospects. Documentaries were filmed during the 2022 presidential election in Manaus.

Directed and scripted by: Katja Brazil

Ad support: TVT/Megafone

Implementation: Amazonia SR

The “Science in the Amazon” project is supported by the Instituto Serrapilhera, the first private, non-profit foundation working to promote and disseminate science in Brazil. Serrapilheira is also a partner of future point.