Contemporary Guarani Shamanisms: “Traditional Medicine” and Discourses of Native Identity in Brazil
Health Culture and Society September 8, 2012 E J Langdon, I S Rose 9 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive substance traditionally associated with Amazonian shamanism, has spread globally over the past two decades. This paper examines its adoption by the Guarani Indians on Brazil's southern coast, arguing that this process is tied to the growing identity politics of Brazilian indigenous peoples and public policies promoting cultural diversity. In the case analyzed, the adoption of ayahuasca is linked to ongoing cultural revitalization in shamanism, health, and education, as well as the specific desires and actions of a leading family in one Guarani village.