As práticas religiosas dos indígenas Tabajara na Paraíba no século XXI

Abstract

This paper presents a study of the Tabajara Indigenous people of Paraíba in the 21st century, focusing on their religious, social, and cultural practices. It aims to analyze how religious, social, and cultural practices occur in the context of the Tabajara Indigenous people today. Spirituality stands out as the central axis of community life, guiding social relations, rituals, and the preservation of ancestral memory. These religious practices keep traditions alive and also strengthen resistance to the threats posed today. The research explores the cultural resilience of the Tabajara, who, despite the pressure of acculturation and external influences, maintain their religious practices, such as the Toré and the use of medicinal plants to cure illnesses. It is based on authors such as Barcellos and Barcellos (2024), Callou (2018), Grünewald (2008), Reesink (2000), Resende (2023), Silveira (2018), Simas (2023), Soares et al. (2023), Krenak (2019), Moraes (2024), Zannone (2011), among others. Religious practices, often associated with the struggle for territorial preservation and the autonomy of indigenous lands, reflect a continuous effort of affirmation and resistance in the face of the historical and political difficulties faced by these people. The approach is qualitative and uses bibliographic and descriptive research. Emphasis is placed on the work of women in religious practices, demonstrating their importance in maintaining social and spiritual cohesion within the villages. It is concluded that it is through resistance that the Tabajara keep their religious and cultural manifestations alive, above all, reaffirming their identity and fighting to have their territory demarcated.