"Eu moro embaixo do meu chapéu": disputas fundiárias, culturais e memoriais na construção de Palmas (1988-2002)

Abstract

This dissertation explores the land, cultural, and memorial disputes involved in the construction and consolidation of Palmas, the capital of Tocantins, from 1988 to 2002. Focusing on the occupation of the northern region and the migration of workers, this study investigates the formation of a local identity marked by resistance and the struggle for dignified housing in a planned city shaped by a prosperity ideology favoring specific population sectors. Through oral history methodologies and documentary analysis, the research reveals how migrant workers contributed to the construction of Palmas while facing marginalization, prejudice, and the stigma of occupying areas considered “dangerous” and “irregular.” The narrative highlights the Vila União neighborhood as a symbol of struggle and survival amid urban segregation, where land and urban resources were used as instruments of social exclusion. The study also examines the inequality between the northern and southern regions of the city and how public policies shaped this process of occupation and territorial division. This work contributes to the discussion on the history of Brazilian cities and the importance of migrant voices in constructing urban memories and identities.