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Research Proposal for the Enawene-Nawe People

Research Objective (Introduction):

I am conducting this research on the Enawene-Nawe people in order to get a better

understanding of their culture. In my research, I will be examining their food production

techniques in order to gain a better understanding of the food they get for day-to-day

consumption as well as the effect their food source has on the environment. Through a

functionalist approach, I will be determining how the parts of the Enawene-Nawe culture

contribute to the well-being of the individual and society as a whole. Meaning, I will take a

look at how everything in society would be affected if the Enawene-Nawe people changed

their method of food production. Also, through a political ecologist perspective, I will test

how the food production of the Enawene-Nawe people affects the environment, as well as,

how the environment affects the production of their food.

Literature Review:

Jurema de Souza Machado conducted a study to examine the Yaokwa ritual of the

Enawene-Nawe people. The Yaokwa ritual is carried out every year during a drought period

in order to honor spirits. The Enawene-Nawe people feel by doing so they are ensuring

“cosmic and social order for the different clans,” (Machado). The Enawene-Nawe village

represents their cosmic/ social order by four levels, “above the terrestrial plane where they

themselves live is the eno, the habitat of the celestial gods… below the terrestrial plane is a

sinister universe dominated by the iakayreti. Above the eno is the fourth and last layer, an

infinite, unreachable and lifeless space,” (Kohler). Over the course of seven months, clans
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alternate responsibilities in order to carry out the ritual effectively. These responsibilities

include, fishing expeditions, preparing offerings, and performing dances. Through these

responsibilities and a vast “knowledge of agriculture, food processing, handicrafts… and the

construction of houses and fishing dams,” the local biodiversity of the region is celebrates the

fragile ecosystem of the Juruena River (Machado). The Enawene-Nawe people carry out this

ritual every year in order to maintain a good relationship with the gods so they will be

blessed with fish and vegetable salt year round.

However, in Machado’s study, he examined the construction being done on

hydroelectric plants near the region that is ultimately damaging the fishing capability in the

region and putting the ritual, as well as food production, at risk. Since the Enawene-Nawe

people do not eat red meat, if their fishing source is taken out, they will starve to death. Not

only do the Enawene-Nawe fear the construction of the hydroelectric plants, but they have

threats of invasion and are becoming more and more exposed to pollution due to cattle

ranching and mining activities nearby. Due to these changes, the Enawene-Nawe feel the

gods are punishing them for the lack of offerings and they are entering a state of

disorientation.

Machado’s research on the importance of the ritual and the dangers of building the

hydroelectric plants, led the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage-IPHAN

(IPHAN) to declare the Yaokwa Ritual as an official cultural heritage in Brazil. Machado

among a team of other anthropologists pulled together their research to demonstrate how

important the ritual is to the Enawene-Nawe in order to halt the mass production of the

hydroelectric plants. Although, language and cultural barriers ensued between the Enawene-

Nawe people and the members of the IPHAN, they ultimately reached a compromise. Since
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the ritual aims to protect the biodiversity of the region and it represents the integrity of the

region, Brazil would ultimately be jeopardizing itself by putting the region in danger.

Although the plants will still be built somewhat nearby, Machado helped organize a Ministry

of Fisheries “aiming at developing solutions such as the construction of fish farms and the

appropriate training for the indigenous people to maintain said farms, which would then

restock the river network” in the region (Machado). He also negotiated financial

compensation for the Enawene-Nawe people to ensure lifelong prosperity.

Methodology:

Before arriving to the Juruena River basin in Brazil, there are several preparations

needed. To begin with, doing fieldwork is very expensive, so funding necessary from a

source that will support anthropological research (such as form the Social Science Research

Council). Since funding is only given based on the greatest merit, it is important that the

proposal given to the source is impressive and well written. Additionally, before leaving,

health precautions need to take place. Since travel will be outside of the country, shots,

immunizations, and medicines are vital to ensuring safety in the field. Also, it is extremely

important to gain permission from the host government. Since host governments are usually

worried about research being embarrassing or offensive politically, it is smart to associate

oneself with a local academic institution to share research experiences with. It is also

important to become proficient in the native language. However, since Brazil has several

languages, dictionaries may not exist for the Enawene-Nawe language, it is vital to build in

time for learning the language upon arrival in Brazil. Lastly, before leaving it is important to

find someone to look after the personal items being left behind, determining what to ship to
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Brazil, purchasing equipment, getting an up-to-date passport, and creating a schedule for

transferring money (Andreatta and Ferraro 100).

My study on the Enawene-Nawe people will be done in the Juruena River basin in

Brazil, located in the southern Amazon rainforest. Although the river has a lot to offer to the

Enawene-Nawe people, such as their main food source, it is not navigable due to its many

waterfalls and rapids. The region is pictured below.

During my study, I will be using methods such as participant observation, interviews

and videography in order to record my research. While doing participant observation, I will

need to gain acceptance from the Enawene-Nawe community. In order to do so, I will have to

fully observe the community first to see how they behave, so I can participate in a non-

intrusive manner. In doing so, I will be able to see how they carry out their food production

techniques. I will also need to introduce myself in a consistent manner and explain why I am

there, so later on there is no confusion between the members within the community. Also, I

should be cautious and proceed slowly, in order to follow the rules of their community and
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not offend anyone (Andreatta and Ferraro 104). In the interview process, I will be doing

unstructured interviews, with minimum control, and asking open-ended questions in order to

receive results from the native people’s own words (Andreatta and Ferraro 106). These

interviews will provide me insight to how different generations are involved in the

production of food as well as how difficult of a process they go through in order to stay well

fed. Lastly, I will be videotaping and carrying out event analysis in order to document who

participates in the production of food and to provide a visual representation to those in which

I share my findings (Andreatta and Ferraro 110).

Since the Juruena River basin cannot be navigated through, I will have to fly to Brazil

and then take a car to get to the Enawene-Nawe village along the riverside. Since I am

travelling to a new location, with different cultural practices from my own, it is vital that I

have an informant to be of my assistance. The only contact I will have with the native people

will come from the time I am building in to begin to understand their language. Personally, it

is important that I am the one learning their language and communicating with them so they

see my dedication to the study and trust me. I will not be bringing a computer into the field,

due to a lack of cellular service. So, in order to track my progress, I will be journaling

throughout the day, taking several videos (both related and unrelated to the interviews), and I

will use audio recordings.

While in the field, the main problem I will encounter will be the language barrier.

However, my dedication to learning the language and the patience I will carry with me,

should be beneficial. Also, the Enawene-Nawe people do not believe in eating red meat, so I

must adjust to their customs and diet. Due to the extensive amount of research I am wanting

to do, I will be in Brazil for approximately two years. I will dedicate the first year to learning
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the native languages, understanding their culture and getting to know the people. The second

year in Brazil will be used for carrying out my study and focused on the production of food

for day-to-day consumption.

Ethical Considerations:

Throughout my study, it is important to consider the certainty in which the project I

am participating in can benefit those being interacted with. It is also important that I

determine the extent to which I will become personally involved in the lives of the people I

am working with. I also must comply with the accepted ethical and professional standards

expected from me (Andreatta and Ferraro 55). While attempting to get funding for my study,

I have to be honest about my qualifications and purpose in conducting my study. I also owe

the responsibility to the Enawene-Nawe people by clearly communicating to them what my

project entails so they can decide for themselves whether or not they wish to participate. I

will make it clear to them that their participation is clearly voluntary. Also, I will make

anyone who wishes to participate, sign a consent form allowing me to film them, talk with

them in interviews, and observe them. However, their identity will remain anonymous from

the public eye (AAA Code of Ethics). I also ensure that no one participating in my study will

be harmed or put in a place of danger. In my study, there are minimal risks, and nothing shall

be done to compromise anyone’s safety. To the tribe as a whole, I must make sure that my

findings don’t disrespect the integrity or worth of their community. Additionally, I have to be

truthful and open to the Brazilian government as well as the American government, to not

compromise their professional standards and to make sure my research clearance is

maintained (Andreatta and Ferraro 57).

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Conclusion:

At the end of my study, I am hoping to accomplish my goal on gaining knowledge of

the food production techniques the Enawene-Nawe people carry out. I also hope to gain an

understanding of the Enawene-Nawe culture and how their food production techniques are

affected by the environment around them, as well as, how their food production techniques

affect the government. My interest in the Enawene-Nawe people stems from their uniques

geographical location and the study performed by Machado on the Yaokwa ritual.
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Works Cited

Anon. 2018. "Methods And Ethics - Learn And Teach." Americananthro.org. Retrieved

September 23, 2018

(http://www.americananthro.org/LearnAndTeach/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=2645&navIte

mNumber=652).

Ferraro, Gary P, Susan Andreatta, and Chris Holdsworth. 2018. Cultural Anthropology. 11th ed.

Boston: Cengage Learning.

Kohler, Alice. 2018. "Enawenê-Nawê Indigenous Tribe In Amazon, Brazil. Ethical Art By

Xapiri." Xapiri. Retrieved September 23, 2018 (https://xapiri.com/pages/enawene-nawe).

Machado, Jurema. 2018. "Yaokwa, The Enawene Nawe People's Ritual For The Maintenance

Of Social And Cosmic Order - Intangible Heritage - Culture Sector - UNESCO."

Ich.unesco.org. Retrieved September 23, 2018 (https://ich.unesco.org/en/USL/yaokwa-the-

enawene-nawe-people-s-ritual-for-the-maintenance-of-social-and-cosmic-order-00521).

Mendes, Gilton. 2018. "Enawenê-Nawê - Indigenous Peoples In Brazil."

Pib.socioambiental.org. Retrieved September 23, 2018

(https://pib.socioambiental.org/en/Povo:Enawen%C3%AA-naw%C3%AA).

Ryser, Rudolph. 2018. "Enawene Nawe News And Analysis On Intercontinental Cry."

Intercontinental Cry. Retrieved September 23, 2018

(https://intercontinentalcry.org/indigenous-peoples/enawene-nawe/).

Waton, Fiona. 2018. "Enawene Nawe." Survivalinternational.org. Retrieved September 23,

2018 (https://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/enawenenawe).