Ethnobotany and Indigenous Traditional Knowledge in Brazil: Contributions to Research in Ecopsychology

Authors

  • Maria do Carmo Pereira Santos Tito Biologist, PhD candidate at the Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Tocantins, Brazil
  • Jonas Carvalho e Silva PhD in clinical psychology and culture (University of Brasília). German Chancellor Fellow (2019) at the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation /TU Dortmund University, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jpr.v3i1.2824

Abstract

This paper is the result of an investigation of the flora and traditional knowledge in the conception of Javaé indigenous people from the Txuiri village located on Bananal Island, Brazil. The objective is to investigate the plants used by these indigenous people, their diverse uses and to understand how traditional knowledge is passed on to new generations. This is a qualitative, descriptive and interdisciplinary survey, whose data collection strategies included the application of semi-structured questionnaires and collection of plants for cataloguing according to Angiosperm Phylogeny Group or APG III (2009). We identified 26 plant species, used for various purposes such as medicinal use, food, construction, craft and cultural, which were deposited in the Herbarium of the Federal University of Tocantins. Roots, stem and leaf are the plant parts most used by the community. The plants mentioned were most frequently found on the banks of the Javaés River and in the backyard of the residences. Significant traditional knowledge of these people about the plants are transmitted to new generations, through visual, orality and experimentation. Ethnobotanical studies strengthen research in ecopsychology while allowing research into the interactions between human populations and plants.

Keywords:

Plants; Ecopsychology; Javaé people; Brazil; Traditional knowledge

References

[1] Perez, I. U. (2010), Use of natural plant resources in the Araçá Indigenous community, Roraima. [Master's Dissertation], Federal University of Roraima, Brazil. http://www.bdtd.ufrr.br/tde_busca/arquivo.phpcodArquivo=51

[2] Hegarty, J.R. (2010), Out of the consulting room and into the woods? Experiences of nature connectedness and self - healing. European Journal of Ecopsychology 1: 64-84. http://eje.wyrdwise.com/ojs/index.php/EJE/article/view/11

[3] Sá, R., Félix, I. Souza, G., Silva, A. P., Souza, A. & Ribeiro, J. (2019). The importance of Amazon biodiversity. Multidisciplinary Reviews 2(1). https://doi.org/10.29327/multi.2019011

[4] Oliveira, F. C.de, Albuquerque, U. P. de, Fonseca-Kruel, V. Stern da, & Hanazaki, N. (2009). Advances in ethnobotanical research in Brazil. Acta Botanica Brasilica, 23(2), 590-605. https://doi.org/10.1590/S010233062009000200031

[5] Lopes, B. P. C S. (2017). Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants from the Kaxinawá indigenous land in Nova Olinda, municipality of Feijó, Acre. [Master's Dissertation], Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil. http://hdl.handle.net/11449/150997

[6] Alves, A. G. C.; Souto, F. J. B. (2020). Ethnoecology or ethnoecologies? Facing conceptual diversity. In Ethnoecology in perspective: nature, culture and conservation. Recife: Nupeea, 1(3), 2010. p. 19-39. https://docgo.net/etnoecologia

[7] Martins, A.G.; Rosário D. L.; Barros, M.N.; Jardim, M.A.G. (2005). Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal, food and toxic plants from Ilha do Combu, Municipality of Belém, State of Pará. Rev. Bras. de Farm, v. 86, n. 1, p. 21-30, João Pessoa, Brasil. https://repositorio.museu-goeldi.br/handle/mgoeldi/184

[8] Cole, F. (1932). Ethnobotanical investigations. American Anthropologist, 34(1) 148-150. http://www.jstor.org/stable/660944.

[9] Spanholi, M. L., & Barreto, M. R. (2018). Popular use of plant resources and socioeconomic profile of residents of rural communities in Sinop, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Gaia Scientia, 12(1). https://doi. org/10.22478/ufpb.19811268.2018v12n1.33130.

[10] Silva, T.S., & Freire, E.M.X. (2010). Ethnobotanical approach to medicinal plants mentioned by people from the environs of a caatinga conservation unit in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais, 12(4), 427-435. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-33062009000200031

[11] Sena, S.A.S. de, Dantas, M. C. dos S. M., Araújo, F M, Watanabe, Y. N., Fadigas, J C., Santos, L. S., Souza, V. S., Jesus, B. O. de. (2016). Ethnobotany: an interdisciplinary dialogue between medicinal plants and the teaching of Chemistry and Biology. In: XVIII Encontro Nacional de Ensino de Química (ENEQ). Florianópolis-SC, Brasil – 25 a 28 de julho de 2016. http://files.fitoetnobio.webnode.com/200000852-15622165d4

[12] Santos L. S. N., Salles M. G. F., Pinto, C. M., Pinto, O. R. de., Rodrigues, I.C.S. (2018). Ethnobotanical knowledge about medicinal plants in the community of Brenha, Redemption, CE. Agrarian Academy, Centro Científico Conhecer. 5(9); p.409-421. http://dx.doi.org/10.18677/Agrarian_Academy_2018a40

[13] Bilibio C. M. A. (2013). Facing the Mirror: Ecopsychology and Sustainability. [Doctoral Thesis], University of Brasilia, Brasília, Brasil. https://www.repositorio.unb.br/bitstream/10482/14858/1/2013_MarcoAurelioBilibioCarvalho.pdf

[14] Diegues A.C, Arruda R.S.V. (Orgs.) (2001). Traditional knowledge and biodiversity in Brazil. Brasília: Ministry of the Environment; São Paulo USP. https://livroaberto.ibict.br/bitstream/1/750/2/Biodiversidade%20e%20comunidades%20tradicionais%20no%20Brasil.pdf

[15] Rodrigues, V.E.G.; Carvalho, D.A. (2001). Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants of the cerrado domain in the region of Alto Rio Grande, Minas Gerais. Ciência Agrotécnica, Lavras, 25(1), p.102-123. https://www.agencia.cnptia.embrapa.br/recursos/FLO_Etnob_Cerrado_MGID-0zWHltLEGY.pdf

[16] Alexandre, R. F., Bagatini, F. & Simões, Cláudia M. O. (2008). Interactions between drugs and ginkgo or ginseng herbal medicines. Rev. Bras. Farmacogn. vol.18 (1), 117-126. João Pessoa Jan./Mar. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-695X2008000100021

[17] Garcia, C. (2020) Indigenous Animistic Belief Systems and Integrated Science: Perspective on Humans’ Relationship with Nature and the Coronavirus Pandemic. The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE) 1((1) 1-11. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/ije/vol1/iss1/6

[18] Roszak, T. (1992). The Voice of the Earth: An Essay of Ecopsychology. 2. Ed. Grand Rapids, Phane Press.

[19] Kazdin, A. E. (2009). Psychological Sciences Contribuition to a Sustainable Environmental. APA Presidential Adress. American Psychologist, 1(1) p. 339- 356. DOI: 10.1037/a0015685

[20] Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (2010). Demographic Census. Rio de Janeiro. www.censo2010.ibge.gov.br

[21] Distrito Sanitário Especial Indígena do Tocantins (2020). Special Secretariat of Indigenous Health/ SESAI. http://www.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2019/ janeiro/09/Relatorio-de-Gestao-2017-versao-sistemaTCU.pdf

[22] Rodrigues, P. de M. (2008). A caminhada de Tanỹxiwè: uma teoria Javaé da história. [Doctoral Thesis] University of Chicago. http://www.uft.edu.br/neai/file/a_caminhada_de_tanyxiwe.pdf

[23] Bonilla, L. O. (2000). Reproducing itself in the world of whites: Karajá structures in Porto Txuiri (Bananal Island, Tocantins). [Master's Dissertation] Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. http://cesta.fflch.usp.br/node/849 ou https://www.academia.edu/2944786

[24] Toral, A. A. de. (1992a). Cosmologia e Sociedade Karajá. [Master's Dissertation], Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro http://biblioteca.funai.gov.br/media/pdf/TESES/MFN-13769.pdf.

[25] Oliveira, R. C. de. (1996). The Anthropologist's work: look, listen, write. Revista De Antropologia, 39(1), 13-37. https://doi.org/10.11606/2179-0892.ra.1996.111579

[26] Albuquerque, U. P. de. Lucena, R. F. P. de. Cunha, L. V. F. C. da.. (Eds)(2010). Métodos e técnicas para coleta de dados etnobiológicos. In: Métodos e técnicas na pesquisa etnobiológica e etnoecológica. Recife, PE: NUPPEA, p. 41-64. .

[27] Souza, V.C. & Lorenzi, H. (2008). Systematic Botany: illustrated guide for identification of native and exotic fanerogamic families in Brazil, based on APG III. 3a ed. Instituto Plantarum, São Paulo.

[28] Agiosperm Phyogey Group III (2009). An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classication for the orders and families of o erring plants. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 11(1), 105-121.

[29] Pereira, G.de S., Noelli, F. S., Campos, J.B., M. P., Santos, M. P., Zocche, J. J. (2016). Guarani Historical Ecology: The plants used in the Atlantic Forest Biome of Santa Catarina Southern Coast, Brazil (Part 1). Cadernos do LEPAARQ, 3(16), 198-246.

[30] Melo, S., Lacerda, V. D., & Hanazaki, N. (2008). "Restinga" species known by the Pântano do Sul local community, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Rodriguésia, 59(4), 799-812. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/2175-7860200859409

[31] Araújo, A.C., Silva, J.P., Cunha, J.L.X.L., & Araújo, J.L.O. (2009). Socio-economic and cultural characterization of roots and post-harvest procedures ofmedicinal plants commercialized in Maceió, AL. Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais, 11(1),84-91. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-05722009000100014

[32] Heineberg, M. R. (2014). Knowledge and Use of Plants by Xokleng at TI Ibirama-Laklãnõ, Santa Catarina. [Master's Dissertation]. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. https://repositorio.ufsc.br/handle/123456789/129007

[33] Callicott, C. (2013). Interspecies communication in the Western Amazon: Music as a form of conversation between plants and people. European Journal of Ecopsychology. 4(1) 32-43. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?-doi=10.1.1.928.8606&rep=rep1&type=pdf

[34] Santos, M. D. L. D.; Araújo, E. M. D, & Batista, A. R. (2010). Medicinal plants used by Kambiwá Ibimirim Indians - PE. Revista Brasileira de informações científicas. 1(1) 78-85.

[35] Pinto, E. D. P. P.; Amorozo, M. C. D. M.; Furlan, A. (2006). Folk knowledge about medicinal plants with rural communities in Atlantic Forest, Itacaré, BA, Brasil. Acta Bot. Bras. 20(4), nº 4, 751-762. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-33062006000400001

[36] Moreira, R. D. C. T.; Costa, L. C. do B.; Costa, R. C. S.; Rocha, E. A. (2002). Ethnobotanical approach about the use of medicinal plants in Vila Cachoeira, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. Acta Farm. Bonaerense 21 (3) 205-11. http://www.latamjpharm.org/trabajos/21/3/LAJOP_21_3_3_1_L8H8YN8M78.pdf

[37] Giraldin, O. (2016). Dilemmas of interculturality and education in Brazil. In Russo, Kelly and Paladino, Mariana (Orgs.). Sciences, technologies, arts and indigenous peoples in Brazil: subsidies and debates based on Law 11.645/2008/1. Ed. Rio de Janeiro http://www.promovide.febf.uerj.br/biblioteca/nepie/ciencia_tecnologia_indigena_ebook.pdf

[38] Coope, J. (2019) How might Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge (ITEK) inform ecopsychology? Ecopsychology, 11(3) 156-161 https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2019.0005.

Downloads

How to Cite

Tito, M. do C. P. S., & Carvalho e Silva, J. (2021). Ethnobotany and Indigenous Traditional Knowledge in Brazil: Contributions to Research in Ecopsychology. Journal of Psychological Research, 3(1), 49–59. https://doi.org/10.30564/jpr.v3i1.2824

Issue

Vol. 3 , Iss. 1 (January 2021)

Article Type

Article

License

Copyright © 2021 Maria do Carmo Pereira Santos Tito, Jonas Carvalho e Silva

Creative Commons License

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC