Kariri -Xocó

The tribe lives in the Sementeira reservation at the banks of Sao Francisco River close to the town of Porto Real do Colegio in the state of Alagoas, Northeast Brazil. They have a pacific relationship with other villages around their lands whose villagers are also of Amerindian descent, and the Kariri-Xocó are similar to them in their behavior and their dress. However, they maintain their own traditional way of celebration - the "Toré," the great voice of the tribe: a ensemble of dancing, dressing, body painting, and singing. The tribe also has a unique space for rituals: a nearby forest called "Ouricuri" where they honor and perform rituals, for this reason, they called themselves "Filhos da Jurema": (Jurema’s Children). Jurema is the name of a sacred tree and also a beverage used to perform major rituals. Both traditons helped them to strengthen their own culture, fighting against successive waves of invasions: Portuguese, masters and other farmers in constant incursions in their lands throughout the 500 years of Brazilian colonization.

Toré

The sacred Toré is a ritual featuring dances and devotional songs created by the rhythm of the maraca, a traditional percussion instrument handled only by the masters. The Toré is used in festive occasions as well for healing and curing proposes. The Toréhas been performed outside the tribe by non-indigenous communities, as taught by the masters as way of therapy and self-knowledge in which people who have participated in those sessions have experienced happiness and joy in mind, body and heart.

The masters:

Tchydjo

He is the responsible for Toré dance in the tribe, and he is the great instigator of Kariri-Xocé outside the community. He is an ambassador of his people, and a great dancer and singer, whose mastery has been appreciated by Brazilians from other regions.

Tecainã

Young warrior, who had a dream with a golden eagle, and interpreted it as a mission for unification of neighboring Indian communities of the Northeast as part of a big project, which he called Golden Eagle. The project includes the preservation of their own culture and improvements in terms of their lives facing the poverty and aggression by outsiders.