Materializing Alliances

In western Brazil, indigenous people organize ritual spaces of ayahuasca shamanism to share with both indigenous and non-indigenous participants, typically during political meetings, training courses, and cultural festivals. These gatherings enable participants to identify collaborators, exchange substances, and share knowledge. Through ayahuasca shamanism, indigenous professionals and leaders communicate information about their history, ancestors, and nonhuman beings in their sociocosmos. Even those with few shamanic skills are invited across state borders and to foreign countries, especially by non-Indians interested in indigenous spiritualism. This involvement of economic resources makes it a sensitive issue for indigenous communities. While shared shamanism brings visibility for Amazonian ways of knowing, the "horizontal openings" remain controlled within communities.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract This chapter looks at ritual spaces of ayahuasca shamanism in western Brazil, organized by indigenous people to be shared purposefully with other indigenous and non-indigenous participants. This usually occurs in the evenings of political and cultural meetings, training courses, and cultural festivals. They allow identifying people with whom to cooperate, exchange substances, and share knowledge. Second, through many elements of ayahuasca shamanism indigenous professionals and leaders can variously communicate information about their history, ancestors, and nonhuman beings in their sociocosmos. Even indigenous people with few shamanic skills have been invited over state borders and to foreign countries, especially by non-Indians interested in indigenous spiritualism. This has also meant the involvement of economic resources, making it a sensitive issue for indigenous communities. Amazonian indigenous shamanism shared with non-kin brings new visibility for Amazonian shamanic ways of knowing and practices, but the “horizontal openings” remain controlled in the communities.