Interconnecting Waiwai theories of nature, society and identity: An exploration of our understanding of the relationships between Amerindians in southern Guyana, their ambient environment and their perceptions of community and personhood.

摘要

This thesis addresses the issues surrounding the formation of theories regarding nature, society and identity among a group of indigenous, Carib-speaking Amerindians in southern Guyana known as the Waiwai. The introduction covers issues of fieldwork and the experience of the ethnographer in field, and the impact of representations of cultures and persons by both "inside" and "outside" influences and agendas. Several key concepts are then outlined for this work. These include the Waiwai conception of the soul, or spirit essence, known as ekati, their idea of personhood and the use of discourse and narrative by them in creating persons. The next chapters deal with the Waiwai as historically represented in the texts and narratives of explorers, travelers, adventurers and missionaries as well as the previous work of other anthropologists working with them.; Following this is a chapter on the role the Waiwai play in the formation of the identity of the Guyanese state and how this effects the formation of their own identities. From here, the Waiwai are connected to the landscape and their ambient flora and fauna through an exploration of ethnobotanical research among them. The next discussion details a catastrophic flood that caused the Waiwai to relocate their village and reconfigure their social relations as well as re-identify themselves as a people and as a community. The larger issue of the impact of natural disaster on small-scale societies is dealt with here. Finally, some brief comments are made on issues of gender among the Waiwai. This leads to some concluding thoughts on the future of anthropological field research among the Waiwai.