RITUAL DEATH: REFLECTIONS ABOUT THE SURUWAHA SUICIDE

• Main Authors: Marcio Martins dos Santos, Kariny Teixeira de Souza
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul 2009-06-01
• Series: Espaço Ameríndio
• Subjects: práticas culturais, Amazônia, suicídio, morte ritual
• Online Access: http://seer.ufrgs.br/EspacoAmerindio/article/view/7191

This paper, by analyzing a socio-cultural practice of the Suruwaha people - the "ritual death" - aims to question and corroborate with the conceptual review of the term "suicide", considering it inappropriate for what in fact this particular case represents. The reflection on this case, based on a review of the anthropological literature about these people, tries to highlight the risks and limitations that may be generated by this "western look " in relation to an indigenous practice. The anthropological analysis of issues related to the "ritual death" of the Suruwaha undoubtedly leads us to interesting conclusions about the results and meanings of the contact between the "Western society" and indigenous peoples. At the same time, it demonstrates the complexity of the so-called traditional cultures as objects of study, since they are likely to suffer constant and complex transformations and re-elaborations.