Dakila's manifesto against Folha: critical analysis of the journalistic approach and implications for collaborative research.
- Dakila News
- Oct 7
- 3 min read
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The Dakila Research Association published a manifesto repudiating an article in Folha de S. Paulo, in which it claimed to have maintained an agreement with the São Paulo state government. According to the public statement, the article's title, "Creator of the Ratanabá theory maintained an agreement with the Tarcísio administration," is sensationalist and misleading, reducing a research project to a caricature.
In the statement, Dakila clarifies that the memorandum of understanding with the São Paulo state government was requested by the state itself and did not involve any public funding—all field and research activities were funded with the organization's own resources. The partnership, according to Dakila, was solely aimed at cooperation in technology, tourism, and scientific support.
However, the Folha report claims that Dakila maintained an "expired agreement" with the state government to interact with municipalities on the São Paulo coast (Cananéia, São Vicente), and that the public protocol was canceled in December 2024. Dakila rejects this narrative and accuses the outlet of opportunistic journalism and manipulation of facts.
For those interested: Dakila reaffirms its commitment to "free, transparent, and independent science" and promises to continue its investigations into the Peabiru Trail—a historic indigenous route—without public funding or editorial submissions.
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On October 2, 2025, the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper published an article titled "Creator of the Ratanabá Theory Maintained Agreement with the Tarcísio Administration," accusing Dakila of maintaining an agreement with the São Paulo state government. On October 5th, the Dakila Association issued a statement contesting not only this headline but also the entire approach of the report, stating that it was a biased investigation lacking journalistic rigor.
According to Dakila's official statement, the memorandum of understanding signed with the São Paulo state government (through the Department of Tourism) did not provide for any financial transfer or economic compensation—all research and fieldwork activities were carried out with the organization's own resources. Dakila maintains that it was contacted by state authorities, not the other way around, and that the memorandum of understanding was intended to assist the state with technical expertise, mapping, and the promotion of scientific tourism.
Folha's report, in turn, states that the partnership had already expired when used in contacts with coastal municipalities (Cananéia and São Vicente) and that the protocol was canceled in December 2024. Furthermore, there are questions about Dakila's use of the term "agreement" after the official end of the protocol, including when presenting itself to the municipalities.
Archaeology experts and research institutes have criticized the Ratanabá city theory (arising from non-scientific assumptions) and question the attempt to legitimize it through public protocols. The Brazilian Archaeological Society (SAB) does not recognize such theories, and historian Artur Barcelos even produced a dossier highlighting Dakila's history of attempts to obtain permits for unprecedented research in the Amazon based on these controversial lines. In its manifesto, Dakila accuses Folha of abandoning its own code of ethics by prioritizing convenient narratives over accuracy.
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