UNRAVELING THE VOICE OF THE JUNGLES: THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADITIONAL CHEMICAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE AMAZON

Abstract

Traditional peoples and communities (TPCs) of the Western Amazon hold extensive knowledge about nature that transcends the boundaries of Western sciences such as chemistry, physics, and biology. In this context, ethnochemistry emerges as a bridge between traditional knowledge and academic chemistry, acknowledging the epistemological plurality of these communities. This article investigates the traditional chemical knowledge of TPCs, analyzing its interaction with modern science through a narrative-integrative literature review. By recognizing ethnochemistry as a legitimate field, the study seeks to value these knowledges and highlight their relevance to contemporary chemistry. The characterization of TPCs, including Indigenous peoples, quilombolas, rubber tappers, fishers, and caboclos, underscores their cultural diversity, intimate relationship with their territories, and intergenerational transmission of sustainable practices. The study proposes that these knowledges should be understood as universal rather than limited, presenting ethnochemistry as a decolonizing science that integrates ancestral practices into Western chemistry methodologies. Empirical experimentation and oral transmission are emphasized as effective methods for constructing chemical knowledge within these groups, transcending the limits of Western science. It is concluded that ethnochemistry promotes a broad understanding of chemical phenomena, respecting the identities and territorialities of TPCs, and advocates for a plural and inclusive science that values traditional knowledge as an integral part of modern chemical understanding.