At just 1.7 hectares — the equivalent of two official soccer pitches — the Jaraguá Indigenous Land is currently the smallest demarcated indigenous land in Brazil. Home to around 800 indigenous Guarani people, the land is predominantly inhabited by groups who speak the Mbya dialect. Alongside Nhandeva and Kaiowá, Mbya is one of the three main modern dialects of the Guarani language.
The area, which was demarcated in 1987, included only two of the seven villages that exist today in the territory: Tekoa Ytu, Tekoa Pyau, Tekoa Itakupe, Tekoa Itawera, Tekoa Itaendy, Tekoa Pindó Mirim, and Tekoa Yvy Porã.
In 2024, the Ministry of Justice issued a declaratory decree recognizing the territory's 532 hectares, marking an important step towards officially expanding the Indigenous Land's area.
The indigenous occupation of Jaraguá dates back far in history. There, they hunted, fished, and obtained raw materials for building houses and making moã ka'aguy regua (medicines from the forest). The area's history is marked by conflicts and territorial disputes. Located adjacent to Jaraguá State Park, the area is one of the last remaining fragments of the Atlantic Forest in the city of São Paulo.
QUOTES:
"When we're not playing ball, we're at home taking care of things for our husbands, you know? Taking care of the house. Soccer is the only fun we really have, like, just to distract us."- ROSEANE RETE, "Guardiãs" player
"When a man is the referee, he doesn’t pay much attention to us women. It seems that, just because we 'don't understand,' he referees the game without much care. I don't like that. If you're going to referee, you have to do it properly." - ROSEANE RETE, "Guardiãs" player
"When I see the Juruá (non-Indigenous) play, they play very seriously; they don't laugh. We're different, though. Even when we play for real, we're always happy. There are no fights or complaints. We don't have that in my village. Even when most of us get angry. It's all in good fun." - JUCI KEREXU, "Pindó Mirim" player
"Soccer is a path of strength and empowerment for these women. It was soccer that made me the leader I am today." - JANDIRA PARA MIRIM, "Xondarias" player
"Here in the village, during a tournament, our own tournament, we play however we want. We play however we feel comfortable, whether we have boots or not." - JANDIRA PARA MIRIM, "Xondarias" player
"I think the ka'a ceremony also represents a team, a team of women who are preparing the yerba mate for the ceremony." - SOLIANE KEREXU, "Itakupe" player