Colonizing the forest

migrants from the west of Santa Catarina (1972)

Abstract

This study aims to analyze a migratory experience that took place in 1972, seeking to occupy the region of the BR-230 highway (Transamazônica) with settlers from Western Santa Catarina. On the part of the national state, the National Institute for Agrarian Reform (Incra) stimulated these small farmers to build a new Eldorado and become rich by practicing agriculture in fertile soils. Added to this, local newspapers and magazines sought to report on the saga of these settlers as a patriotic and, in a way, civilizing goal in the Northern region of Brazil. With this in mind, we argue that a localized and relatively small migratory process can contribute to the understanding of a historical moment experienced by the nation or by that society in particular. The sources used for this research are, among others, the Celeiro Catarinense magazine and Serviço de Segurança e Informações’ report from the 1970s.