Estrangeiros em Santa Catarina

Abstract

The author, Dr. Lourival Camara, former director of the Departamento Estadual de Estatistica of Santa Catarina and now the head of the Publications Service of the I.B.G.E., devotes this article to the study of the foreign element and the colonists in that southern state.    The author bases his classification on that made by the sociologist, Oliveira Viana, who distinguishes three large population groups in Brasil, namely: the northerners, which group includes the inhabitants of the "Sertão"; the central-southerners, including those who live in the forests; and the far-southerners, including the gauchos. The inhabitants of Santa Catarina are similarly divided into three distinct anthropological groups, namely: a) the coastal inhabitants; b). the actual colonists located in the valleys of the principal rivers; and c) those living on the plains of the central highland. Corresponding to each of these zones the representative types of inhabitants are referred to respectively as: the "praiano", the "colone", and the "serrano". The coastal inhabitants descended from immigrants from the Azores who settled along the Atlantic coast, are indolent, apathetic, and undernourished. The plainsmen, substantially of the same type as the half-caste "bandeirantes", are individualistic and circumspect.

            With these preliminary observations out of the way, the author goes on to study the problem of colonization in this southern state. First h e points out the causes for the failure of the colonization that originated in the state capital, and then goes on with a brief historical outline on the use of foreign workers in that state. Starting in 1824, waves of German. Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish, and other immigrants entered the country, scattering themselves from the central to the southern parts. They did not actually colonize, but settled In the towns. No selection as to the type of immigrants was made, these arrivals having a great variety of occupations. Neither was there any thought given to the place of settlement of the new arrivals. The official colonization of the state, the author emphasizes, was subject to the same mistakes and deficiencies. Under the title of colonists, large groups of Germans, Austrians, Italiana, Swiss, Portuguese, Spaniards, Norwegians, French, English, and others have settled in Santa Catarina since the era o f independence. The Germans, Italiana, Poles, Austrians, and Russians have the largest numerical contingents as well as a greater faculty for remaining permanently. Based on official estimates, the author breaks down, as follows. the foreigners present in the state In 1940: 11 291 Germans, 3 928 Italiana, 960 Poles, 372 Syrians, 286 Portugueses, 144 Spaniards, 54 Uruguayans, and 2 Japaneses. The Germans in the state are concentrated principally In the valley of Itajaí (Blumenau, Gaspar, Indaial, Timbó, and Rodeio counties), in Joinville, Brusque, and other parts - actually distributing themselves throughout the region. The Italians are located in the Tubarão Valley and scattered through the counties of Araranguá, Brusque, Caçador, Campos Novos, Concordia, Joaçaba, Videira, and Xapecó. The Poles have settled in the counties of Ibirama, Rodeio, Matra, Canoinhas, Porto União, and others; the Russians being found in Uruçanga, Cresciúma, Pôrto União, Itaiópolis, Caçador, etc.

            Following this, the author makes a detailed study of the economic activities In the state, starting with the Germans, under which classification he places all groups that originated in Germany. The German, the author states, generally starts his activities in the state as a farmer. Aided by the government or by a colonization company, he obtains 25 to 30 hectares of land, paying for it by working on road construction or in goods. He carries on home industries as well, soon becoming a small rural landowner. The author describes two characteristics which represent the German colonist: self-sufficiency, which explains the variety of crops grown ; and thrift, which promotes a multitude of tariffs and the carrying· out of small industries on his own property. Thus, emphasis must be given to the industrialization and rural spirit which distinguishes the German colony, and bringing out the fact that the largest number of industries located in the state are to be found in counties that were originally settled by Germans. The economic well-being of the colonists rests. fundamentally, on small land holdings, self-sufficiency, and owner-worked farms - the family being not only a social but also an economic unit.

            The author then goes on to state that the Italian colonists have maintained a similar type of settlement to that of the Germans. The first Italian immigrants originated in Sardinia, later arrivals being from all parts of the country, but with those from central Italy predominating. Agriculture is based on small owner-worked landholdings. The Italiana in general cultivate native crops, but also introduced the vine, silk, and various other agricultural crops.

            In referring to the contributions of the remaining foreign elements, the author considers the colonization of the Poles ill-advised economically as well as culturally.

            With reference to the negro element, the small influence they have had in the demographic make-up of the state is obvious, this being due no doubt to the aversion the German immigrant had toward the negro. They have kept away from cooperation with the negroes slice the first colonization of the Itajai Valley - relegating them to scattered sections of the coast and the highland region to the north.

            Following thls, the author examines positive aspects of the colonization, bringing out tbe indisputable benefits which it brought to the state, not only economically but also ethnically, socially, and culturally.

            To the labor of the foreigner ls due the solidification of the economics of the region thanks to the introduction of multi-crop farming, new methods, mechanization by numerous specialists, and the use of Industrial machinery.

            As to social and cultural considerations, the fact stands out that the colonists introduced a rather higher standard of living, and it must be noted that the state is among those with the highest literacy rates in Brasil. Also scuttled by the colonists are the richest counties in the state - namely Blumenau, Joinville, Brusque, Rio do Sul, Jaraguá do Sul, Ibirama, Uruçanga, and Timbó - all the inhabitants of these being descended from the original immigrants.

            Analyzing the negative aspects of this colonization, the author points out various causes for the lack of assimilation and resistance of the colonists to the social order. In the first place, the immigrants were left isolated, and as the German colonists were the most persistent in resisting assimilation, he studies at great lengths the isolation to which they were subject. The German immigrants went to distant areas in the interior which were difficult of access - segregated culturally and economically, out of contact with the coastal inhabitants which they did not like in any case, and bringing their own doctor, pharmacist, engineer, shoe maker, mason and the like.

            Aside from this isolation, the author mentions other factors which contributed to the non-assimilation of the colonist, namely: the influence of the professor, the protestant pastor, the catholic priest, and the strong social sentiment so common among Germans.

            With reference to the Italian immigrants, the author explains that they were rebellious to assimilation in spite of the similarity of religion, language, and ethnic origin to that of the native population. This was due to isolation, lack of schools and roads, official neglect, the influence of the priests, and other reasons; all these being similar to the causes that contributed to the isolation of the Germans.

            The author then criticizes the former policies of the government "toward immigration which permitted the arrival of thousands of foreigners without discrimination or direction, thus causing the formation of individualistic groups. This policy was accentuated by the governors who allowed the children of the colonists to grow up without a knowledge of the Brazilian language or history. Thus, in 1940, although there were only 21,530 foreign-born in the state, 295,477 persons (about 40% of the population) customary used a foreign language.           In conclusion, the author raises three principal objectives that should be considered In the solution of the colonization problem, namely: a) revitalizing the coastal inhabitants who are descended from immigrants from the Azores, b) populating and colonizing the extensive regions which are still not colonized, especially in the counties of Xapecó, Caçador, Ibirama, Rio do Sul, Italópolis, Joaçaba, etc., and c) the selection of immigrants, taking into consideration their ethnic origin, their social and cultural background, and other factors. The author then summarizes the experience already acquired through the colonization problem, and states that full advantage should be taken of this knowledge in order to arrive at a better solution to the problem.