Da natureza à mesa: a pesca artesanal na vida e alimentação dos quilombolas da Comunidade de Mangueiras (Ilha do Marajó – Pará)

Abstract

This research was committed to study the ways of capturing and preparing fisheries resources, as well as the relationship of the quilombola community of Mangueiras in Salvaterra - Ilha do Marajó - PA with food. I started from the cultural dimensions in the context of traditional knowledge, the ways to obtain, prepare, pack and consume food of fishery origin in the quilombo. The field research took place in 2019 and the main instruments of the methodology employed were open interviews, semi-structured interviews, participant observation, tours guided by local fishermen, free listing technique and ethnophotography. The results achieved demonstrated that fishermen and fisherwomen maintain a constant dialogue of knowledge, acquired through daily contact with fish and the river from the early stages of life. Traditional knowledge reveals much of the quilombo's identity and culture, a territory dominated by social actors with expertise in fish species, differentiating them by their habitat, food preferences and specific behaviors, including knowledge about climatic and lunar aspects that influence the dynamics of fishing in the region. Fishing resources have proved to be important for the preparation of foods such as fried, roasted and boiled fish, snail mujica, snail pie, coconut milk crab, turkey stew. However, we also observed an increase in processed foods, caused by a greater relationship with the city and access to social programs of the Brazilian federal government. Even with all the changes that have taken place, it is undeniable that the way food is prepared is still maintained today as a way of valuing culture and resistance. Thus, food choices are directly influenced by environmental characteristics, in addition to individual preferences linked to quilombo social and cultural issues. Taboos play an important role and directly influence the choices of target species.