Um Estudo Etnográfico sobre as Tradições Culturais e Linguísticas dos Povos de Etnia Kaixana em Tefé-AM

Abstract

The article is the result of the research An ethnographic study on the cultural and linguistic traditions of the Kaixana peoples in Tefé-AM. With this, we intend to investigate the reasons that led these people to lose their linguistic identity, through an ethnographic approach, since their mother tongue is not spoken so much by them. The Nheengatu language was replaced by the general language imposed by the missionaries when having contact with the native population. In preparing this article, a bibliographic survey was carried out in sources such as Luciano (2006), Kruppa (1994), Terra (2019), Patriota (2009) and Laraia (2015). The methodology was based on Lakatos and Marconi (2017), Prodanov (2013), Oliveira (2009), Cervo and Bervian (2007) to support the field research, qualitative research with an ethnographic approach and techniques such as the questionnaire, participant observation and document analysis. The target audience consisted of 01 shaman, 04 mothers, 04 fathers and 05 indigenous students. The sample was represented by all native participants of the 6th year of a single class of Elementary School and family members residing in the community who answered the questionnaire. The results indicate that the Kaixanas currently speak the Kaixana language among themselves, but when they have contact with other people, they use the Portuguese language. At school, education is being specific, intercultural and bilingual to maintain the lexicon. In this way, we emphasize the need to preserve cultural and linguistic traditions through the wisdom of the shamans and teaching the families and bilingual teachers who will be the agents of spreading the cultural wealth of their own people.