Ancestral and academic knowledge in dialogue on Circular Economy

By Arlene Carvalho, from Circular Movement

What is the Circular Economy if not a way of life that aims to keep progressing while respecting all that exists?

Long before the concept of circularity gained ground in international forums, sustainability reports, and the media, Indigenous peoples were already practicing it — and continue to do so — with wisdom, depth, and a unique connection to the Earth. So unique that they call it Mother: Mother Earth or Pachamama. To be circular is to give back to nature what is taken from it. It is to care for what is shared. It is to understand that everything has a cycle, and that this cycle depends on the balance between humans and the planet.

To mark Indigenous Peoples’ Day, celebrated on April 19, we invited two powerful women with strong minds to exchange knowledge on the subject. One is the ambassador of the Circular Movement, professor and researcher at the University of São Paulo, Sueli Angelo Furlan — a reference in the field of Geography and Environmental Education. The other is Jera Guarani, a leader of the Tekoa Kalipety village, located in the far south of São Paulo state, which has become a symbol of resistance, regeneration, and the recovery of degraded areas.

In this exchange of letters, they establish a dialogue between academic knowledge and ancestral wisdom — essential in this Year of the Circular Economy and within the context of the polycrisis we are facing, where climate change intensifies daily and affects the quality of life across the planet.

Thus, we invite everyone to read, reflect, and learn from those who understand that circularity is not a trend: it is a living heritage, a daily practice, and a commitment to the continuity of life.

Listen to the audios in Portuguese and read the English transcripts of the letters from Ambassador Sueli Furlan and Indigenous leader Jera Guarani below:

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Click on the image to read the full letter from Prof. Sueli Furlan.	Click on the image to read the full letter from Indigenous leader Jera Guarani.

* This text was automatically translated with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed. Still, there may be slight differences compared to the original version in Portuguese.