A Genealogy of the Ayahuasca Cultural Heritage Registration Process in Brazil

The chapter traces the genealogy of Brazil's effort to register ayahuasca's religious use as cultural heritage, examining the historical and comparative context of similar processes for psychoactive plants in Latin America. It identifies key players, conflicts, disputes, and alliances among ayahuasca groups, and analyzes their positions and debates surrounding the registration. The entry of indigenous ethnic groups into the public debate further complicated the process. Beyond technical and political challenges, the discussion raises debates about tradition, culture, environment, and ethnicity.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This chapter aims to investigate the genealogy of the ayahuasca cultural heritage registration process in Brazil. Through a historical and comparative perspective, we identify the main players involved, as well as the conflicts, disputes, and alliances that form this scenario. First, we describe briefly the cultural heritage registration process of various psychoactive plants in Latin America. Then, we critically analyze the positioning of several ayahuasca groups and the discussions about the cultural heritage registration process of the religious use of ayahuasca in Brazil. Finally, we examine the entrance of the indigenous ethnic groups in the public debate and how this has made the process more complex. Beyond its technical and political challenges, we will see that the discussion about the process of cultural heritage registration and religious practices raises interesting debates about tradition, culture, environment, and ethnicity.