Adana Omágua Kambeba, a Brazilian Indigenous woman, aspires to unify her roles as a medical doctor and shaman. Battling prejudice and systemic challenges, she integrates traditional healing practices into modern medicine. Adana’s upcoming journey along the Amazon will allow her to serve her community while she trains to become a pajé. Her advocacy work promotes the necessity for mutual respect between Indigenous and Western medical systems, reflecting a profound cultural exchange.
Adana Omágua Kambeba, a Brazilian Indigenous woman, embraces a dual calling as both a medical doctor and a traditional shaman. From a young age, she was sought after for her natural counsel, which perplexed her elders. Adana believes her path was chosen by a higher calling, as confirmed by her grandmother, emphasizing her deep connection with healing traditions of the Kambeba people, also known as Omágua, who inhabit the Amazon region.
Despite her father’s skepticism about pursuing medicine due to economic constraints, Adana held on to her aspirations fueled by a strong sense of faith. She has embarked on a unique mission, striving to integrate Indigenous healing practices with Western medicine, aiming to mediate conflicts in Indigenous health care.
Adana, who adopted the name Danielle Soprano Pereira, represents a new wave of Indigenous students accessing universities through affirmative action policies. Her admission to the prestigious Federal University of Minas Gerais brought challenges as she encountered prejudice and alienation, yet she persevered, affirming that her presence reflected the widening doors of opportunity for Indigenous peoples.
Throughout her medical education, Adana experienced personal and academic hardships, confronting the rigid demands of a six-year program that often disregarded individual well-being. In 2017, following an emotional crisis, she received a spiritual affirmation of her life’s purpose to pursue both medicine and shamanism, reassuring her of the path ahead.
Adana graduated in March 2022 from UFMG, marking her as the first Indigenous woman from the Amazon to achieve such a milestone, despite the historical context of her institution. She then made the decision to leave her initial positions as a doctor to embark on a transformative journey along the Amazon River to serve her community.
She will partake in shamanic trials to become a pajé, a revered Indigenous healer, while also offering medical support and addressing pressing health issues within Kambeba communities. Central to her spiritual journey are the rituals involving ayahuasca, which she views as essential for deepening her understanding of healing and spiritual leadership.
Adana has actively participated in speaking engagements to advocate for Indigenous rights and highlight the need for collaboration between Western and traditional medicine. At a recent conference, she eloquently discussed the exploitation of Indigenous knowledge and urged for the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives in discussions on health and nature.
The Brazilian healthcare system has established a subsystem catering to Indigenous peoples, which has aimed to respect Indigenous beliefs in care practices. However, as academic and medical researcher Luiza Garnelo suggests, translating these ideals into action remains a considerable challenge, given the hierarchical dynamics in medical professions and the cultural insensitivity often faced by Indigenous patients.
Adana’s experiences underscore these cultural tensions, illustrated by a situation involving a snake bite where Indigenous healing methods proved effective. She also adeptly navigated a critical medical intervention where her identity as both a shaman-in-training and a physician facilitated communication and acceptance between the medical staff and a patient’s family.
Adana is committed to harmonizing her dual identities and envisions a future where both doctors and shamans are celebrated together at her anticipated pajé ceremony. This aspiration not only embodies her personal journey but also seeks to bridge gaps within Indigenous and Western medical practices, fostering respect and mutual understanding.
In conclusion, Adana Omágua Kambeba exemplifies the potential of integrating traditional Indigenous wisdom with contemporary medical practices. Her journey as a future pajé and certified doctor highlights the importance of respecting cultural nuances within healthcare. Adana’s work aims to build bridges between disparate medical systems, advocating for a holistic approach that honors both modern science and ancestral knowledge. Her efforts represent a meaningful movement towards inclusivity in health practices, making strides for Indigenous rights in Brazil.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
