O impacto da escrita na sociedade Waimiri-Atroari

This article examines the impact of the written word on the Waimiri-Atroari, an indigenous people who live in the north of Amazonas and south of Roraima States. I briefly outline the history of interethnic contact of these people with segments of the national society, and the process of colonization, which includes the colonization of thejr language. I then focus a new style of Indian policy administration subordinated to the large-scale economic development interests of big companies, which I call "entrepreneural Indian policy", reinforced by an intensive marketing campaign at the national and international level, incorporating some Waimiri-Atroari into the propaganda to make it appear that the company funded assistance programme has "saved" the Waimiri-Atroari from extinction.