•  
  •  
 

Abstract

Este trabalho, inicialmente, apresenta uma breve discussão sobre as novas arqueologias indígenas, seu método e sua relação com os conhecimentos tradicionais. Com base na história oral dos Wai Wai, um povo caribe das Guianas, apresentamos as aldeias antigas situadas ao longo do rio Kikwo e os lugares importantes e presentes na memória do povo wai wai. Consideramos que não somente os artefatos arqueológicos são marcadores das culturas indígenas, mas também as paisagens e os espíritos às quais estão associados. Neste artigo, de modo extensivo, recorremos aos relatos de um ancião, Poriciwi Wai Wai, que menciona festas celebradas nas aldeias antigas, os casamentos, as trocas de objetos e artefatos, as danças e o consumo de bebida fermentada. Por fim, descrevemos a saída repentina dos Wai Wai dessas antigas aldeias para a aldeia-missão Kanaxen no sul da Guiana e como os Wai Wai, ali convertidos pelos missionários cristãos, organizaram expedições para buscar os chamados povos isolados ou não vistos (enîhnî komo), que ainda permaneciam do lado do Brasil.

Translated Article Title

Archaeology and indigenous history from the Wai Wai perspective: a Cariban people of the Guianas

Translated Abstract

This paper initially presents a brief discussion on the new Indigenous archaeologies, their methods, and their relationship with traditional knowledge. Based on the oral history of the Wai Wai, a Carib-speaking people of the Guianas, we present the ancient villages located along the Kikwo River and the places significant in the Wai Wai collective memory. We argue that not only archaeological artifacts serve as markers of Indigenous cultures, but also the landscapes and the spirits with which they are associated. In this article, we extensively draw on the accounts of an elder, Poriciwi Wai Wai, who describes festivals held in the ancient villages, marriages, exchanges of objects and artifacts, dances, and the consumption of fermented beverages. Finally, we describe the sudden relocation of the Wai Wai from these ancient villages to the Kanaxen mission village in southern Guyana and how the Wai Wai, there converted by Christian missionaries, organized expeditions to seek the so-called isolated or unseen peoples (enîhnî komo), who still remained on the Brazilian side.

Keywords

Arqueologia indígena; História oral; Paisagem; Memória; Língua Caribe; Wai Wai

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.