Nationaal Archief The Dutch translation of the document written at an Indigenous assembly includes the names of signatoriesNationaal Archief
A written petition sent to the Dutch government based in Recife by Potiguara Indigenous people in 1645 reveals their political perspective of the occupation, which lasted from 1630 to 1654. The Potiguara were dissatisfied with the enslavement of Indigenous people by Europeans and called for a decentralized power structure with representatives of their choosing. The document was drafted during an assembly held in the village of Tapesserica (then part of the Captaincy of Itamaracá), attended by 134 representatives from across what is now the Brazilian Northeast. It was studied and translated by Bruno Romero Ferreira Miranda, a historian from the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE). The original document was never found, but an old Dutch version dated April 11, 1645, has been preserved. A previous translation from 1913 existed but omitted the authors, leaving them unidentifiable. “As well as reflecting the transformative effect that Europeans had on Indigenous lives, the assembly also demonstrates the ability of the Potiguara people to negotiate with their allies and adapt, transform, and survive in times of war and devastation,” concludes the July article. Miranda also published the full translation of the text (Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, July 10; Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, April 25).
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