“The lands necessary for the dwelling and daily sustenance of the indigenous peoples”: construction of indigenous rights in Portuguese America and the conquest of Ibiapaba in colonial Ceará (1695-1730)

Abstract

Amidst the intense dynamics of colonization in the Serra da Ibiapaba region, this article examines the experiences of Indigenous peoples concerning land, as documented by missionaries and Portuguese Crown agents between 1695 and 1730. The study utilized written correspondences that capture the voices of Jesuit missionaries from the Ibiapaba Mission, magistrate Christovão Soares, and indigenous inhabitants of the area, along with records of indigenous petitions found in sesmaria land grant letters. Additionally, normative documents and legal literature were consulted to understand the legal framework governing territorial organization in Ibiapaba. The analysis focused on the social units presented in the sources, aiming to adopt a juridical-cultural approach that highlights local particularities shaped by dynamic interactions. The records reveal that indigenous groups in Ibiapaba engaged with colonial agents in varied ways, influenced by mutual perceptions and categorizations, to the extent that, in some cases, relationships were formed that transcended mere subordination to the colonial regime, enabling the appropriation of that regime to protect rights and genuine interests linked to land use.