Eficácia Simbólica e Sentido de Cura: um tema entre o ensino de química e os saberes originários

This study analyzes cultural expressions, ritual practices, and knowledge transmission among Indigenous peoples of Brazil, with particular emphasis on theoretical and bibliographic contributions. Anchored in Claude Lévi-Strauss’s Structural Anthropology, we revisit his 1938 ethnographic immersion into a central Brazilian Indigenous system to explore how these communities construct, embody, and share knowledge. While drawing on Lévi-Strauss’s formulations—especially his treatment of magical-religious rituals and the notion of symbolic efficacy—we also prioritize Indigenous perspectives and conceptualizations of their own cultural systems. Within this framework, we focus on ayahuasca as both a material artifact and a symbolic operator, approaching it as a cultural product shaped by complex interactions between cosmological, epistemological, and ritual dimensions. Extending this reflection into the field of education, the research aims to contribute to the training of chemistry teachers committed to culturally responsive pedagogies. As part of this commitment, we propose the development of an interactive eBook as an instructional innovation targeted at non-Indigenous educators. We suggest that such a product can serve as a key educational resource, enhancing cross-cultural dialogue and supporting the preservation of Indigenous cultural knowledge. Ultimately, we hope to inspire teachers to become active agents in the recognition and valorization of Brazil’s Indigenous heritage.