Representações sociais sobre a pajé Becuú – a guardiã dos saberes ancestrais da aldeia Anambé, em Moju/PA: memória, identidade e cultura

Abstract

This investigation aimed to reflect on the memories, cultures, and identity representations of the Anambé people, an indigenous society established in the Lower Tocantins region of Pará. Its starting point was the imaginary network around Pajé Becuú, an ancestral shaman who was the keeper of the Anambé's traditional knowledge. The main objective of the investigation is to analyze the oral narratives about the Pajé Becuú, and how this social-historical construct interferes in the fabrics that make up the cultural and identity complexities of the Anambé. This study is justified by its contribution to a better understanding of the identity complexities expressed in the social and cultural practices of the Anambé people. The methodology is qualitative in nature and is based on documentary and bibliographic research, complemented by semi-structured interviews as a data collection instrument. In conclusion, we found that memory is a fundamental instrument for constructing the identity and consciousness of a social group, regardless of how it is recorded. Without it, it is impossible to critically analyze a people's culture, which could lead to the forgetting and erasure of their ethnicity and knowledge. Through Pajé Becuú, it was possible to demonstrate that memories and identity narratives can act as transformative instruments, both in strengthening the sense of cultural belonging and in seeking new spaces of power. Additionally, the Anambé people have proven to be resistant and resilient regarding their cultural identity, acting as a force of resistance against the erasure of their culture and the oppression of the white man.