Awê: o sagrado e a etnicidade das Jokanas do Povo Pataxó na Aldeia Barra Velha

Abstract

Brazil's cultural diversity is immense, reflected in its indigenous peoples who maintain not only distinct ethnic traits but also strong cultural expressions, characterized by 305 ethnic groups that speak 274 indigenous languages, each contributing to the rich cultural mosaic of their territory, but also of Brazil. The sacred and ethnicity of the Jokanas of the Pataxó people, from the Barra Velha Village, in Bahia, are the focus of this research, which is established as an investigation into the female Pataxó identity, but with its insertion in the descriptive process. This identity, today, is part of a resistant minority in the midst of a society that has systematically interfered in the identity character of a people, since the beginnings of the colonization of our country. The Jokanas Pataxó are considered extremely important for their participation in the historical context of growth, and transformation, of the Barra Velha Village (Mother Village). Objective: The general objective was to analyze, together with the Jokanas Pataxó, how their identity is constructed through their interactions with the community and daily rituals. Methodology: Focusing on the community strength of the Jokanas Pataxó, from the village of Barra Velha (mother village), collective decolonial ethnography was defined as the research method, undertaken through contact and coexistence with several individuals, in different situations, over a long period of time in the field, conditioned on the observations being recorded from an immersion procedure of almost two years, comprising a period of separation conducted from theoretical studies, analysis of data collected through qualitative instruments (participatory interviews, field diary entries and questionnaires), always actively including the voice, listening and considerations of the Jokanas participating in the process. Results: The Jokanas Pataxó narrated and shared stories through their gaze, smiles, silence and know-how. The construction of their identity is done through dialogue between individual ancestral memory and collective tradition. Conclusions: Female sisterhood based on empathy and mutual support (sorority) is something natural among these people; although feminism was not a widely known word, the practice of sisterhood was always present.