Marechal Cândido Rondon (1865-1958) e a Ética do Encontro: Uma Análise Antropológica do Contato Interétnico no Brasil

Abstract

Marshal Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon (1865–1958) was one of the main agents of thenational integration process during the Old Republic. Born in Mimoso, Mato Grosso, and the sonof an indigenous mother from the Terena ethnic group, Rondon stood out as a military engineerand in the Telegraphic Line Construction Commission, responsible for connecting Brazil,especially the Amazon, through telegraph lines. This project was essential for consolidating therepublican state during the Rubber Boom period. Influenced by Auguste Comte's Positivism,Rondon embraced an ideal of technical progress combined with humanitarian ethics. In hisexpeditions, he interacted with various indigenous ethnic groups, using his knowledge of nativelanguages to establish peaceful contact, always adhering to the motto: "Die if necessary, neverkill." This approach resulted in the creation of the Indian Protection Service (SPI), thepredecessor of the current FUNAI. One of the most remarkable episodes of his life was the1913 expedition alongside former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, in the Rio da Dúvida, inthe Amazon. This achievement cemented international recognition of his courage andcompetence. Rondon's legacy is immortalized in the names of Brazilian states, cities, andhighways, such as the Marechal Rondon Highway, and in several avenues and streets in majorurban centers. This article seeks a critical reinterpretation of Rondon's trajectory, in light ofmodern anthropology, considering the historical context of Amazonian occupation and therelationship with indigenous peoples. By integrating concepts from authors such as Franz Boas, Gilberto Freyre, Clifford Geertz, and Darcy Ribeiro, the aim is to assess the impact of Rondon'sactions on the construction of national identity and public policies related to indigenous peoples.The objectives are: To analyze Rondon’s trajectory in light of contemporary anthropologicalprinciples and its impact on indigenous populations; to investigate Rondon’s contribution to theintegration of the Amazon and the formation of public policies directed at indigenous peoples;and to discuss the implications of Rondon's legacy on issues of colonization and ethnography,especially in the context of Amazonian territorial occupation. This study adopts a qualitativeapproach, based on bibliographical review and academic articles, with an emphasis onRondon's expeditions and the policies he influenced, applying anthropological concepts tounderstand his legacy.