Working culture and a questioning of the indigenous presence in Santa Catarina’s social imaginary

Abstract

This article aims to analyze, through established relationships with the Xokleng Indians in the valley of Itajai, how the working culture was diffused in Santa Catarina - coupled with the political use of the constructed imaginary - caused the exclusion of the indigenous figure in the building of a social identity of Santa Catarina state. It analyzes some situations of confrontation between immigrants and natives, where the intention of assimilation of immigrant culture appears clearly in a process that induces the devaluation of indigenous culture. Notions of belonging and identity are considered, as well as the different contexts and historical moments in which the discourse of labor positivization was used in Brazil. The discourses and the imaginary in this paper are recognized as social and historical products, and as instruments of power that influenced the construction of Santa Catarina.