The logic of myth and the place of the Other among the Indians of the Chaco

Authors

  • Guilherme Galhegos Felippe PPG História PUCRS

Abstract

This paper presents the correlation between the Indians’ mythological narratives and ritual practices carried out in the daily life of the Chaco groups. Based on the analysis of myth fragments collected by 18th century missionaries and mythological narratives of contemporary Chaco groups, the article demonstrates how the initiation rituals, food taboos and ceremonial isolation were practices adopted by Indians as a way to design actions that, by reviving certain mythological events, created ways of integration among the groups members and means to prevent possible mishaps that myths had already narrated.

Keywords: indigenous history, Chaco, mythology, initiation rites, women.

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Published

2016-07-04

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 2 (2016): May/August

Section

Dossiê: História e etnologia: diálogos interdisciplinares

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