CULTURAL MATHEMATICAL IDENTITY: mathematics in everyday life of the Jiripancó People

matemática no cotidiano do Povo Jiripancó

Abstract

This research resulted in the elaboration of a Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (TCC) in the Curso de Licenciatura Indígena em Matemática that is part of the Curso de Licenciatura Intercultural Indígena de Alagoas - CLIND/AL developed by the Universidade Estadual de Alagoas – UNEAL. The purpose of this work was to understand some aspects of the culture of the Jiripancó indigenous people from the mathematical context with a focus on identifying mathematics in their daily lives through the use of the numbering and counting system for issues such as harvest planning, and even social organization, body painting and performing rituals. Furthermore, cultural mathematical identity refers to the way mathematics is perceived, practiced and valued in different cultural contexts and, thus, the Jiripancó people employ geometric concepts in the construction of dwellings and objects in which geometry is fundamental and in some elements of territorial organization. The research has a qualitative descriptive nature of the participant type and brings in its theoretical contribution authors such as D'Ambrosio (1986 and 2002), Walsh (2019), Gerdes (1991), Costa (2005), Cosgrove (1998), among others. Treating mathematics as part of the life of the Jiripancó people, rooted in their culture and traditions, made it possible to carry out this discussion in the form of research with the aim of strengthening the importance of indigenous knowledge in the mathematical context, whether in the community or at school, for the permanence of the knowledge of these people. The results demonstrated the relationship between the community's culture and the mathematical theories and practices that the Jiripancó people develop and use.