Ayahuasca–From Dangerous Drug to National Heritage: An Interview with Antonio A. Arantes
Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Ilana Seltzer Goldstein, Campinas State Univesity
International Journal of Transpersonal Studies 2009 DOI: 10.24972/ijts.2009.28.1.53 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Interview Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Traditional medicine |
| Citations | 15 |
| Key points | The interview explores the challenges and implications of recognizing ayahuasca religious groups as part of Brazil's immaterial cultural heritage, including issues of authenticity, tradition, and legal definitions. |
Abstract
This interview with Antonio A. Arantes, Brazilian anthropology professor and recognized specialist on the topics of intellectual property and traditional knowledge, addresses the 2008 request by Brazilian ayahuasca groups to be recognized as part of the immaterial cultural heritage of Brazil. In the first portion of the interview, Arantes reflects on the challenges of the new conceptions of the Brazilian national immaterial policy program. He discusses several examples of cultural goods recognized by the Brazilian state, such as the candomblé and the samba, and analyzes the controversial issues involving authenticity and tradition in these and other similar cases. In the second portion, Arantes reflects on the specific case of ayahuasca, the relationship of this cultural heritage request to legal issues, the challenges to define exactly what aspects should be recognized, and speculates on the chances that these religious groups will come to be recognized as a national symbol of Brazil.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on ayahuasca, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The antipodes Of the mind Indigenous people, shamans, members of different religious sects using Ayahuasca, and... | 2002 | Qualitative study | |
| Drug Tourism or Spiritual Healing? Ayahuasca Seekers in Amazonia Westerners participating in an ayahuasca retreat in Amazonia | 2005 | Qualitative study | |
| Therapeutic Effects of Ritual Ayahuasca Use in the Treatment of Substance Dependence—Qualitative Results Therapists, expert researchers, and individuals who underwent ayahuasca-assisted... | 2014 | Qualitative study | n = 29 |
| Nourishing the Spirit: Exploratory Research on Ayahuasca Experiences along the Continuum of Recovery from Eating Disorders Individuals previously diagnosed with an eating disorder | 2017 | Qualitative study | n = 16 |
| Exploring ayahuasca‐assisted therapy for addiction: A qualitative analysis of preliminary findings among an Indigenous community in Canada Indigenous adults in Canada who participated in ayahuasca-assisted ceremonial retreats | 2019 | Qualitative study | n = 11 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Ethnobotanies of refusal: Methodologies in respecting plant(ed)‐human resistance Anthropology Today April 1, 2019
- Ayahuasca Religions in Acre: Cultural Heritage in the Brazilian Borderlands Anthropology of Consciousness March 1, 2012
- Zkušenost s halucinogenní rostlinou ayahuasca v kontextu šamanského rituálu Anthropologia integra 2014
- Ayahuasca and Arabidopsis: The Philosopher Plant and the Scientist’s Specimen Ethnos June 1, 2020
- Position of the Ceremony with the Psychedelic Drink Ayahuasca in the Society of the Amero-Indians of the Amazon IntechOpen eBooks December 11, 2023
and 3 more in the library