Utilization of urucum by the Terena Indians of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul: dissemination of traditional and scientific knowledge

Abstract

This study aimed to divulge some traditional and scientific knowledge related to the use of urucum by
the Terena people present in Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. This is an ethnographic study, whose
approach is qualitative, was carried out during the years 2014 and of 2015. In addition to field
observations, in order to collect more information, interviews were conducted with people who have a
broad cultural domain. The study allowed to verify biological characteristics of urucum, such as aspects
of flowers, leaves, seeds and trunk. Aspects such as pigment extraction, feeding and traditional medicine
have been described. Also described were the body paintings used by the indigenous Terena, as well as
the difference of procedures in the two states. It was found that some villages in Mato Grosso do Sul no
longer have the habit of using urucum in body painting, which is very worrying. The study of this plant
allowed to establish relations between the culture and the scientific aspects that can be explored by the
teaching of sciences, so as to enable a dialogue between these knowledge. Therefore, it is believed that
the dissemination of these traditional knowledge is an important means for the strengthening of the
indigenous culture, which can seek scientific knowledge in a way that does not lose its identity.