Tatá Yawanawá travelled on… Good Dreams old Healer

“Tata made the move.” With these few words, indigenous leader Tashka Yawanawa, president of the Yawanawa Sociocultural Association, reported on the passing away of the great Pajé (healer shaman in the indigenous cultures) Tata Yawanawa at the age of 104. To the Yawanawa people our affection, our affection, our embrace of solidarity. To Tata, our gratitude for the trail of light you leave in this world. To honor him, we published his profile, written by Tashka Yawanawa not long ago. Peace and good.

Tata Txanu Natasheni Yawanawa

Tata Txanu Natasheni Yawanawa

Sitting in a hammock, the pajé prays all night to heal a sick person. It also prays for the global community to live healthy, in harmony with the people and the environment in which they live.

Shumo is the earthen pot that the pajé Rumeya uses to pray for a sick person. Prayer songs are the direct communication between the Rumeya and the spirits. A prayer can last all night long.

The shaman never repeats the same words, because he prays exactly what he sees in his visions of Uni. It is the translation of the force of thought in the form of words, which are deposited in the Caiçuma inside the clay pot.

After finishing praying, the Caiçuma has already become medicine with power to heal the sick person. In order for the prayer to bring the cure, the sick person has to fulfill the diet that Rumeya passes to him.

Ferreira in Portuguese and Tata Txanu Natasheni in Yawanawa, rickety, soft countenance, light walk, weak voice, so is Tata.

One is deceived who thinks that it is a fragile person. Tata has the energy to make any young woman jealous. He directs, sings and dances all day and every night during the 5 days of Mariri and Yawanawa Festival. Whoever has the privilege and honor to know him, will soon discover that this humble old man is a King in the spirit world.

Tata has dedicated his entire life to Yawanawá spirituality. While many young people enjoyed life, he followed the path of his elders. He sat in the great Uni rounds with the pajés, listened to the songs and prayed attentively.

When he was asked why he was interested in being an apprentice of a young pajamas, he answered, that when the elders were no longer alive, he could continue to pass on the knowledge of the spiritual world to our people. As a young man he was accepted and initiated on the path of Yawanawa shamanism by the great Yawanawá shamans of his day.

When we did not use Western medicine, Tata, he cured a lot of people. Thanks to him, our people continue to perpetuate for generations. The Health Agent and indigenous leadership, Mariazinha Luiza Naiweni, makes the following descriptions:

“The pajés Rumeya, pray the cacique. The caiçuma (a drink made from manioc) to heal a sick person, but also as a preventive measure. When someone had a bad dream, he tells the shaman who interprets the dream and, according to that dream, prays the drink for the person to drink, thus preventing him from becoming ill. This bird acts like a vaccine. “

Tata has been a friend, a spiritual guide and a person of extreme wisdom, with whom we have learned much to live in this world. She’s one of the most serious, honest and respectful people we know. It represents the living memory of the Yawanawa. From a very young age, she has dedicated her life to shamanism. He has used his wisdom and indigenous science to heal the sick people who seek him after healing.

Tata has always used his spiritual strength for the good of humanity.

In 2006, when two young Yawanawa asked to be initiated into Yawanawa shamanism, Tata broke a taboo by initiating two women in shamanism, which had always been a male-only function.

One of the things we admire about Tata is his humility. Tata is a person with a lot of wisdom of spiritual knowledge Yawanawa, however he always says that “he knows nothing, that he is of nothing.” Unlike many “shamans” scattered around the world who say they know everything. But he is. He does not even have to say that he is the strongest, wisest and most authentic shaman because his own actions speak and show this to the world.

We can say that Tata can be considered one of the personalities of the millennium, for his wisdom, humility and peace that he transmits to all who know him.

This is the Official Note the State of Acre in Brazil published in his honor:

NOTE FROM THE ACRE GOVERNMENT

Acre’s culture and indigenous history looses one of its top leaders.

The most respected elder of the Yawanawá ethnic group, Tata Txanu, passed away the afternoon of last Monday, 19, to the 104 years of age. More than a leader, the shaman was a brother of spirituality, and a great friend who always brought us the sunshine, and the light of love, governed by the teachings of the forest.

Direct from the woods, the shaman lived a centenary of great wisdom, preserving the Yawanawá culture, as well as crossing the curves of the rivers and making the culture of the people of the Acre forest known worldwide, through the enchanting Yawa Festival.

Tata leaves leaving a legacy of knowledge that is a true inspiration for the pursuit of balance and life in harmony.

Acre sympathizes with the departure of this man who represented not only the culture of the Yawanawá and the other ethnic groups of this state, but of all the peoples of the forest. We extend our embrace and solidarity to all txai [brothers], certain that we all feel and mourn such loss.

Tião Viana – Governor of the State of Acre

Nazareth Araújo – Deputy Governor of the State of Acre

Read the Full text in its entirety here (it also has some other really beautiful pictures of the old shaman)