Of the People I met in the “foothills of the Serra do Espinhaço”

Abstract

The text presented brings, firstly, a literature review identifying the Caatingueiros Peoples located at the bases of the Serra do Espinhaço, these also present in the work Grande Sertão: Veredas, by João Guimarães Rosa, and which contextualizes the history of the residents of the region with the Caatinga biome. And, it highlights the need for efforts to preserve the natural heritage and, recently, the desire to preserve the historical-cultural heritage while opening the doors of its territory in search of expanding the socioeconomic development of the region. The intention to expand the opening for tourism and preservation of memories is materialized through a local project, in the initial phase of execution, called "Ecomuseum of the Caatingueiros Peoples in Gameleiras/MG", unfolding facts of the past, of the present and pointing out perspectives for the future of the peoples I met in the "foothills of the Serra do Espinhaço" (Cunha's expression,  2010, p.119). Although the text is presented with double authorship, each author can speak for herself in her writing, through the title presented in the singular, and transpose to paper her experience of encounter and welcome by the Caatingueiro Peoples and the interpretation woven from each field of study: Social Sciences and History.