ARAWETÉ

IndigenousAmazonianpeople whose shamanism is similar in some respects to that of neighboring peoples, and different in others.Eduardo Viveiros de Castrosummarizes his rich ethnographic account of Araweté shamanism by saying that it does not involve any formalinitiation. Certain recurringdreams, especially those featuring theJaguar-Thing, may be signs of a shamanic calling. But what distinguishes a shaman is not his capacity for dreaming (which is also important for a killer), but rather his association withtobacco. The usual way of saying someone is not a shaman ispetıArawetéã-ıAraweté, a “noneater of tobacco.” Shamanic training involves a series of sessions of becoming intoxicated by this plant until the person is “made translucent” and the gods come to him.

Unlike other Amazonian shamans, those of the Araweté are not trained byspirits—“tutelary spirits do not exist”—but shamans have a broad relationship to all significantother-than-human personsin their universe. In addition to tobacco, the other “emblem of shamanism is thearayrattle.” All adult men possess such rattles and may shamanize to some degree.Healingbysuckingout alienintrusions(e.g.,darts), prevention of assault by enemies and theillnessesthey may cause, and the returning of detachedsoulsare common shamanic practices.