Rupusuti: The snuff of the Shawãdawa
Rupusuti is the name the Shawãdawa people give to their Rapé, a word whose meaning is closely related both to the practical study of medicinal plants itself and the spiritual strength that revolves around the sacred power of healing that Mother Nature shares with us.
The Shawãdawa people, self-denominated Povo da Arara (Macaw People), are part of the Pano linguistic group and are spread across the territories of Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia. This indigenous group has been present in Amazonian grounds for several ages now, and their history and customs have greatly contributed to the extraordinary diversity and complexity of indigenous traditions and culture throughout the Brazilian territory.
Se réapproprier leur culture
Ces dernières années, les Shawãdawa se sont efforcés de remédier à la privation culturelle subie par les jeunes générations, en se concentrant en particulier sur la récupération de leur langue et la transmission des coutumes, des traditions et des rites qui leur ont été presque enlevés. Bien qu'il reste encore beaucoup de choses à récupérer et à travailler, des progrès encourageants ont été réalisés en ce qui concerne le droit à l'élargissement du territoire qui appartient légitimement aux Shawãdawa.
Amongst their traditions are the sacred healing rituals that involve taking Rupusuty. It’s a process, just like for any other native group, that revolves around respect and requires deep understanding both of the rite itself, the composition and benefits the plants used in the making of Rapé can offer, and the cultural significance these ceremonies carry.
Le savoir-faire nécessaire à la fabrication de ces mélanges chamaniques est transmis de génération en génération, les anciens Shawãdawa enseignant à leurs jeunes leurs méthodes et leurs recettes, qui peuvent parfois être adaptées par les jeunes générations, alliant ainsi tradition et modernité.
Les mots d'un gardien de forêt
Shawãcaiá Shawãdawa, a young maker of Rupusuty, the Secretary of the Indigenous Peoples of Juruá Foundation’s, and an esteemed partner of Sacred Connection, has shared with us some part of his story as a member of this diverse and outstanding community and gives us a glimpse into the might and potency of his people’s Rapé in this interview we now share with you.
Il décrit les rites séculaires qui interviennent dans la fabrication et la prise du rapé, et explique que la fabrication de ce tabac à priser chamanique est l'une des nombreuses façons dont lui et les autres gardiens du savoir authentique des Shawãdawa peuvent préserver leur héritage et, en le vendant à des groupes extérieurs, partager avec le monde leur médecine ancestrale et sacrée.
If Shawãcaiá’s words have reached your heart, and you’d like to find out more about him, his brothers, and his community’s work, you can read more about the Shawãdawa here, and check out Sacred Connection’s line of Shawãwada Shamanic Snuffs.
If Shawãcaiá’s words have reached your heart, and you’d like to find out more about him, his brothers, and his community’s work, you can read more about the Shawãdawa here, and check out Sacred Connection’s line of Shawãwada Shamanic Snuffs.
