Each people has its histories. When time passes, these histories go disappearing, as usually happens with the aboriginal people stories. In Brazil, the anthropologist (somebody who studies the culture of the peoples) Daniel Munduruku is an indian, of the Munduruku tribe. He recently wrote the ilustrated book "Serpents that had stolen the night and other myths" for children of the city and the forest. All histories are written by indians and illustrated by "curumins" as are called the indian children.

P: How appeared the idea to release this book collection?
Daniel Munduruku: Many aboriginal histories are counted and they are not written. It is very important to preserve this part of the culture to count histories for our children and others too.

P: What is the importance of mythology for these peoples?
Daniel: Histories and its myths are a form to keep people alive and united, of a community to continue. Nowadays, the television tends to change everything. Children, many times, do not play more in the street, they do not hear histories

P: The technology does not bring no advantage for the indians?
Daniel: Clearly that it brings! We cannot live isolated. But this does not mean we must loose our traditions. We have that to contribute with what we have for the world.

P: Why children need to know these mythologies?
Daniel: Children know legends and histories that make it to feel that they are Brazilian. For the aboriginal children, mythology is important to strengthen its identity and tradition. They not only perceive what they are; as also what they are not.

Adapted from www.rits.org.br

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