ABSTRACT

Indigenous educational rights are recent, and Paraná has been expanding access to higher education for these peoples. This study aims to discuss the perception of these students about their presence and interpersonal and epistemological relationships in universities. For that, an ethnic cut is made of the trajectories of Kaingang academics interviewed and permeating these data with official and bibliographic documents. Analyzing them according to oral history, the growing academic occupation in the state was evidenced, emphasizing that Kaingang students are more numerous in this environment than other ethnic groups. Concerning motivations and perspectives regarding training, the results highlighted the commitment to the community of indigenous peoples regarding admission to the university and practical initiatives to contribute to the villages. The Kaingang have promoted the interpolation of traditional knowledge in higher education, breaking with the colonial roots of European scientific knowledge.

KEYWORDS
indigenous higher education; entrance exam for indigenous people of Paraná; interculturality; Kaingang