ABSTRACT
This paper presents a study conducted in a rural community of Tabatinga/ AM, where the transformation of collective identities of its residents was investigated through qualitative research. Between 2006 and 2011, field trips were done, in which participant observation, semi-structured interviews and genogram were conducted. Relations between the community origin, kinship, leadership, community struggles and transformation of collective identities are presented. These processes are related to the religion of Santa Cruz, their production practices and their cultural territorial origin. It is argued that search for benefits reinforces the union among the locals and that one strategies to gain access to social rights was changing their identity from Amazonian caboco to the indian ethnicities Tikuna and Kokama.
Keywords:
identity; Amazon region; rural environments; religion; indians