Elliott Conely
9/12/16
IHSS
9/12/16
IHSS
Shaman in the Piaroa
While visiting an exhibit entitled "Out of the Amazon: Life on the River" at The Houston Museum of Natural Science, I was fascinated by the Shaman and their medical practices. Especially those from the Piaroa tribes and their often times dangerous medical practices that involved various hallucinogenic powders, tobacco, and natural remedies to heal people. The Shaman are also deemed political elites and are in charge of officiating rites. They also engage in teaching activities. They teach the young children important values of the tribe.
The Shaman in the Piaroa Tribes are only the tribe members who are allowed to sit on stools, this is to show that they are superior. They are well respected because they are believed to be able to chase away evil demons that cause disease. The Shaman must have advanced knowledge of local plants and animals to be able to make medicines. They often use Yopo Powder, a hallucinogenic, in their ceremonies. They often use animal skulls and shells in healing ceremonies(in the picture above you can see a turtle shell rattle and a jaguar skull).
The Shaman also rely heavily on music. They use drums and rattles in many ceremonies. The Shaman may also sing to scare away demons. The Shaman are in charge of almost all cultural aspects of the tribe. They pass down traditions and values to future generations.
The exhibit "Out of the Amazon: Life on the River", was very fascinating. Although, I struggled to remember the lense through which I viewed it. I had to remember how my judgement was based on my culture and experiences. For example there was a coming of age ceremony from a particular tribe that entailed being bitten by Bullet Ants to prove one's strength. To me this seemed absolutely barbaric, but to some it is commonplace.
In preparation for visiting the musuems we read the first chapter of the book "Cannibal Tour and Glass Boxes, The Anthroplogy of Musuems", by Micheal M. Ames. The book discusses how natives want to be viewed and how musuems potray them. I kept this in mind while I was in the museum. I wonder how the Piaroa people would like to be shown and if that is different from how they are portrayed?
"Piaroa | Peaceful Societies." Peaceful Societies. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2016. <https://cas.uab.edu/peacefulsocieties/societies/piaroa/>.
The Shaman in the Piaroa Tribes are only the tribe members who are allowed to sit on stools, this is to show that they are superior. They are well respected because they are believed to be able to chase away evil demons that cause disease. The Shaman must have advanced knowledge of local plants and animals to be able to make medicines. They often use Yopo Powder, a hallucinogenic, in their ceremonies. They often use animal skulls and shells in healing ceremonies(in the picture above you can see a turtle shell rattle and a jaguar skull).
The Shaman also rely heavily on music. They use drums and rattles in many ceremonies. The Shaman may also sing to scare away demons. The Shaman are in charge of almost all cultural aspects of the tribe. They pass down traditions and values to future generations.
The exhibit "Out of the Amazon: Life on the River", was very fascinating. Although, I struggled to remember the lense through which I viewed it. I had to remember how my judgement was based on my culture and experiences. For example there was a coming of age ceremony from a particular tribe that entailed being bitten by Bullet Ants to prove one's strength. To me this seemed absolutely barbaric, but to some it is commonplace.
In preparation for visiting the musuems we read the first chapter of the book "Cannibal Tour and Glass Boxes, The Anthroplogy of Musuems", by Micheal M. Ames. The book discusses how natives want to be viewed and how musuems potray them. I kept this in mind while I was in the museum. I wonder how the Piaroa people would like to be shown and if that is different from how they are portrayed?
"Piaroa | Peaceful Societies." Peaceful Societies. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2016. <https://cas.uab.edu/peacefulsocieties/societies/piaroa/>.
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