Adana Omágua Kambeba, an aspiring shaman and medical doctor, seeks to integrate both traditional and modern healthcare practices to benefit Indigenous communities in the Amazon. Her journey is marked by overcoming prejudice in education and the healthcare system, advocating for Indigenous representation, and preparing for her role as a pajé to merge cultural traditions and modern medicine.
Adana Omágua Kambeba, now an aspiring shaman and medical doctor, began giving advice to adults in her childhood, showing a natural inclination towards healing. Her grandmother recognized that Adana had inherited the shamanic lineage of the Kambeba group, also known as Omágua, which resides in the Amazon region. Adana reflects, “She saw strong signs in me. These signs have always led me to believe I didn’t choose medicine, I was chosen by it.”
Facing resistance from her father, who deemed medicine unattainable for their impoverished family, Adana persisted despite the challenges. “Medicine was for those who have money, not humble people like us,” he told her. Despite this, she possessed a strong self-confidence, choosing to pursue her mission of integrating medicine and shamanism for the benefit of Indigenous healthcare.
Danielle Soprano Pereira, Adana’s university name, represents a generation of Indigenous individuals given greater access to education through affirmative action in Brazil. This shift allowed her to attend the Federal University of Minas Gerais, where she became the first Indigenous student to enroll in medical school, an environment that often regarded her with skepticism rather than admiration. “I learned first-hand that prejudice can be covert. It can come with a smile,” she recounted.
Confronting a rigid medical education that conflicted with her cultural values regarding time and well-being, Adana chose to adapt her course based on personal rhythms. She faced a difficult moment in 2017, where a voice helped her reaffirm her path toward becoming both a doctor and a shaman, stating, “This is your mission. Never doubt it.”
Covid-19 led her to join emergency teams amid healthcare shortages before graduating in March 2022 under the historical leadership of Prof Humberto José Alves. After graduation, Adana has worked in various healthcare roles but has since chosen to focus on her mission in the Amazon, planning visits to over 30 Kambeba communities to provide medical care and workshops on pressing health issues.
Her journey also involves rigorous training to become a pajé, the spiritual leader in Indigenous cultures. She views the ayahuasca experiences as vital to her shamanic calling, asserting, “Experiencing revelations under the influence of ayahuasca is profoundly powerful, and there I will prove if I am worthy or not.”
Adana actively engages in public speaking, educating others on bridging Western and Indigenous medicinal practices. At a recent conference in Rio de Janeiro, she presented her perspectives on Indigenous medicine against modern scientific practices, advocating for Indigenous representation in discussions surrounding their traditional knowledge. “Indigenous people are not invited to the conversation, and nature is seen as if it were here to serve us. It is not,” she stressed during her address.
Though Brazil established a subsystem in its healthcare for Indigenous populations in 1999, challenges remain in integrating Indigenous healing practices with biomedicine. Researcher Luiza Garnelo highlighted that, while many Indigenous health workers exist, power dynamics in healthcare often limit their ability to innovate.
This discord impacts Indigenous individuals who may avoid modern healthcare due to conflicting beliefs. Adana recalls a case where an Indigenous family rejected surgical procedures for a snake bite, opting for traditional methods that ultimately saved the man’s leg. Additionally, she has mediated medical disagreements, blending her identity and roles to foster trust and cooperation between Indigenous patients and healthcare providers during crises.
With continued guidance from her mentors, Adana aspires to become a pajé and plans celebrations that honor both the medical and shamanic communities, merging both realms in her commitment to healing and cultural preservation.
Adana Omágua Kambeba exemplifies the integration of traditional shamanism and modern medicine, challenging stereotypes and bridging cultural divides. Her determination to emerge as both a doctor and a pajé represents a commitment to serving her community while advocating for Indigenous voices in healthcare. Through her upcoming journey along the Amazon, she aims to enhance health and well-being within the Kambeba communities, further promoting the coexistence of diverse healing practices.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
