Valentine’s Day: indigenous couples share struggle, challenges and love on the internet

Marcela Leiros – From Cenarium Magazine*

MANAUS (AM) – As the saying goes, love crosses borders and sometimes takes on the world. Proof of this are the indigenous couples who celebrate their feelings of affection, partnership and commitment every day for thousands of followers. This Valentine’s Day, CENARIUM MAGAZINE brings you three “lovebirds” who share their love on the web.

The union of Tukumã Pataxó and Samela Sateré Mawé also brought together two states and two traditions. He, from the Pataxó people of Bahia. She, from the Sateré Mawé people of Amazonas. Together, they have turned love into a person – little Wynoã Tukumãí – and they delight social networks with their love, companionship and struggle. On Instagram alone, the couple have 419,000 followers.

Tukumã told CENARIUM that they met in 2021 at a mobilization in Brasília (DF). The biggest challenge in their relationship was the distance, but in the end everything worked out. The couple officially got together last year in a traditional Pataxó ceremony in Bahia.

“Our agreement, during the time we were dating, was that we could see each other at least once a month. Either in my state, or in her state, or on any other agenda we had together, but we had to see each other at least once a month. And we managed to do it, incredible as it may seem”, he shared.

Gasodá Suruí and Maria Leonice

Gasodá Suruí and Maria Leonice, known as Tori Tupari, were another couple who came together in love and struggle, through a means considered unconventional 14 years ago. The two met online after Tori’s daughter added Gasodá as a friend on the now-defunct Orkut social networking site.

At the time, Gasodá told G1 how the networks contributed to their relationship. “I know a lot of people, my relatives, through the internet, because we talk about indigenous issues on MSN. And when we end up taking part in an event where we meet, it feels like we’ve known each other for a long time,” he said.

Like Tukumã and Samela, the couple also share their marriage of more than a decade on social media, especially Instagram. “My warrior. My companion that life has given me. It’s been 15 years together on this journey. I can only thank God for the blessings in our lives. I love you. Happy Valentine’s Day,” celebrated Gadosá on Wednesday 12th.

Henrique Gil and Maira Gomez

Indigenous Amazonian Maira Gomez also met her boyfriend, Henrique Gil, from Rio de Janeiro, on the internet. A resident of a small indigenous community 35 kilometers from Manaus (AM), she went viral on social media by showing scenes of her family life and relationship with 6.6 million followers on TikTok, 1 million on Kwai and 562,000 on Instagram.

He fell in love with the influencer and decided to quit his Physical Education degree at the State University of Rio de Janeiro to pursue his romance with digital influencer Maira Gomez here in the state.

Despite the abrupt change, the young man’s family was supportive. In the community, however, he had to go through all the rituals, including the 13 lashes, a rite of passage to adulthood according to the local culture, so that the chief would allow the relationship.

“It’s a very beautiful ritual, where the chief blesses us, says a prayer, and there’s also a very beautiful dance,” he told Portal Amazônia last year.