Saberes tradicionais do povo Akwẽ-Xerente: saúde e o bem viver a partir das vozes femininas indígenas

Abstract

This study investigates the practice of Bem Viver (Good Living) within the community of the Akwẽ people, based on the voices of Akwẽ-Xerente elder women. The general objective of the research was to analyze the contributions of the narratives and songs of elder women to the understanding of Bem Viver among the Akwẽ people. The specific objectives were to document the knowledge, narratives, and songs of elder women in the Akwẽ-Xerente language; to contribute to reflections on health and Bem Viver among the Akwẽ-Xerente people; and to recognize the role of Akwẽ-Xerente women in promoting health and Bem Viver through their teachings and songs. The methodology adopted was qualitative in nature and was developed through bibliographic, documentary, and field research. The bibliographic research was fundamental for constructing the concept of Bem Viver, drawing on authors such as Ailton Krenak (2019, 2020, 2022), Alberto Acosta (2016), Gersem Baniwa (2022), Márcia Kambeba (2022), among others, as well as for addressing aspects related to the social, cultural, and community organization of the Akwẽ-Xerente people, based on the works of Indigenous authors such as Rogério Srõne (2018), Silvino Sirnãwe (2022), and João Kwanhâ Xerente (2020). The field research was conducted in Morrão Village, within the Xerente Indigenous Territory, during the cultural festival held on June 22, 2025. The results demonstrate that the transmission of knowledge from generation to generation strengthens cultural identity and guides collective ways of life, promoting harmonious relationships with nature and everything that surrounds the community. It is concluded that Akwẽ-Xerente women make significant contributions to promoting Bem Viver among their people through their care and preservation of culture.