Embroidering memories, writing existences

textile narratives, decoloniality and inclusion in integrated high school

Abstract

This article presents a pedagogical experience developed in 2025 with students from the Integrated High School at the Federal Institute of Paraná – Londrina Campus, which articulated the production of arpilleras and creative writing practices as devices for aesthetic expression, identity construction, and symbolic inclusion in the school context. Grounded in decolonial, intercultural, and inclusive perspectives, the proposal sought to foster narratives related to memory, ancestry, and resistance, with emphasis on Afro-Indigenous experiences and the confrontation of historically produced and naturalized inequalities within educational environments. The experience was developed within the context of pedagogical practices that involved textile and textual productions created by the students, accompanied by pedagogical records such as teacher notes and documentation of the activities. The interpretive reading of the productions considered the meanings attributed by participants to their creations, as well as the ways in which artistic practice enabled the elaboration of individual and collective experiences. The experience showed that the articulation between textile art and creative writing promotes processes of identity recognition, appreciation of cultural diversity, and the deconstruction of gender and racial stereotypes, in addition to expanding students’ critical awareness of power relations present in society. Furthermore, art constituted a space for sensitive listening, belonging, and the legitimation of historically marginalized voices, strengthening bonds and fostering empathy within the group. It is concluded that textile narratives can function as inclusive and socially engaged educational practices, contributing to the construction of an aesthetic, critical education committed to equity, social justice, and the recognition of multiple identities present in the school environment.