“ROMKMÃDKÂ WAIHKU KMÃDKÂ PRÊ”: PRESERVING KNOWLEDGE THE UNIVERSITY OF MATURITY (UMA) HOLDS A DEGREE CEREMONY FOR THE FIRST INDIGENOUS CLASS OF AKWẼ-XERENTE POLO

Abstract

This article highlights a significant milestone achieved by the Universidade da Maturidade (UMA), an extension program of the Federal University of Tocantins/UFT, in partnership with the Tocantins Scientific and Technological Support Foundation (Fapto) and the Municipal Public Power. The event in question was the graduation of the first indigenous class in Brazil, which took place on December 21, 2023, in the municipality of Tocantínia, central region of the state of Tocantins. The graduation ceremony took place at the Xerente Warã Indigenous High School Center and was attended by 28 students/elders. The article's methodology was based on a literature review, using specific materials to achieve the objective of publicizing this unprecedented event. The results highlighted that UMA for indigenous elders has several facets, contributing to the well-being and development of communities through the preservation and transmission of traditional knowledge, strengthening cultural identity, improving quality of life, promoting intergenerationality, empowerment and social participation, in addition to encouraging continuous learning. The execution of the program addressed significant issues for the Universidade da Maturidade (UMA) and indigenous communities, especially with regard to improving the quality of life of elders. The article suggests that this initiative represents a form of dissemination for those interested in healthy aging, indicating possible areas for future research in this field.