Shamanic Practices and Social Capital among Native Youths in the Brazilian Amazon

Among Manchineri youth aged 14–24 in the Brazilian Amazon, collective shamanic rituals involving ayahuasca help create and sustain social networks and trusting relationships. These practices link the making of the sacred, morality, and social and cultural differentiation. Shamanism generates personal connections not only within an individual's community and its spirit world but also with members of other indigenous groups and non-native participants.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Shamanic practices continue to be carried out among many indigenous peoples in both rural and urban areas. This article deals with young Indians aged between 14 and 24 in Brazilian Amazonia and the social networks created by collective shamanic rituals. Specifically, it focuses on the ritualistic use of ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi), a hallucinogenic concoction, among the Manchineri living in Acre state, in the western part of Brazilian Amazonia. The results show that for young Indians shamanic practices are linked to the making of the sacred, morality, as well as social and cultural differentiation, contributing to the creation and maintenance of social networks and trusting relationships. Furthermore, shamanism produces personal relationships and relatedness not only within an individual's native community and its spirit world, but also with representatives from other native groups and non-native participants.