Chamanic world pf the Apurinã: A challenge of interpretations

Abstract

These reflexions concern the ontology of Apurinã shamanism and shamans and their diverse interpretations. One of these interpretations results from superficial academic analyses in anthropology while the other in the fruit of lived native experience enriched with anthropological training. A better understanding requires to guide the reader to travel into the world of shamans (kusanaty). We will describe the process by which they are initiated and acquire the power to cure disease or to cause it; the transformations they go through in order to live in different lands; conflicts and revenge; special diets as well as the objects which are used  during the healing processes aiming at the protection of their villages.