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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures

@nowaykgn.bsky.social

11K followers 7.8K following 2.7K posts

With each indigenous group that becomes assimilated, another unique culture vanishes. It is easy to dismiss what we do not understand. We are all different; we are all the same. www.vanishingculturesphotography.com

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · Jan 1

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to repost my images, I appreciate it🙏🙏🙏

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 13h

Thank you, Linda, for your kind comments. I appreciate them🙏

Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 14h

Thank you🙏In many Indigenous belief systems, illness is understood as an imbalance in the mind, body, emotions, and spirit. The painful process of skin scraping, combined with the medicinal properties of plants, serves as a purification ritual to expel negative energies and restore balance.

Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 15h

Very kind of you, Dominique, I appreciate it🙏

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 15h

For research to proceed, Indigenous peoples have the right to receive fair and equitable benefits from the use of their knowledge and genetic resources. Failure to respect this principle of free, prior, and informed consent is a major ethical barrier for Western researchers.

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 15h

This is a response to a history of theft in which Indigenous knowledge was used to develop profitable drugs without any benefit sharing or recognition for the source communities. For example, colonial scientists took the bark of the Cinchona tree (used to produce quinine) and profited from it.

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 15h

It is difficult for Western medicine to research some of the medicinal plants used by Indigenous peoples in the Xingu region, in part because communities are protective of their traditional knowledge. This privacy is driven by a history of unethical exploitation, often called "biopiracy".

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 15h

Thank you, Dwight, I appreciate your comments🙏

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 17h

Thank you, Manuela🙏

Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 18h

You are welcome, Sally. I appreciate your comments🙏

Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 18h

I was invited to participate, but kindly declined🙂

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 18h

For non-ritual scrapes, cuts, or skin infections (common in the humid Amazon environment), the Xingu tribes rely on a holistic system that blends herbalism, shamanism, and rituals.

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 18h

Good question🙂To stop bleeding, reduce inflammation, and ward off infections from the fresh scratches, participants apply a medicinal root (raiz forte or "strong root") from the forest directly to the wounds. The root is rubbed or used as a fresh extract/paste right after scraping.

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 19h

The skin scraping ceremony of the Xingu people, called arranhadura, is a healing ritual performed by various indigenous groups in the Xingu River region of Brazil. The practice, which is for both men and women, is believed to strengthen the body and spirit by revitalizing the muscles and skin.

The arranhadura is performed to heal, break spells, and take away laziness. For many, the permanent marks and thicker skin serve as a demonstration of their robustness and strength.For boys, it's tied to developing strength for activities like huka-huka wrestling, which boosts prestige and can lead to leadership roles (e.g., becoming a chief.

Intentional skin scratching can be a lifelong habit for many Xingu people, starting in childhood, to build up scar tissue. This results in thicker, tougher skin that is more resistant to insect bites. The scratches are often emphasized by applying body paint, such as black ink derived from the genipapo tree, to the affected areas

The back, legs, and arms are scratched using a sharp tool called a scarifier, typically made from catfish teeth.

The skin, particularly on the arms and legs, is scratched until it bleeds. Following the scraping, leaves or strong roots are rubbed onto the inflamed area.

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 4d

You are welcome, Dwight🙏

Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 4d

The composition is excellent, with the bird positioned off-center in a way that draws the eye along its graceful curved beak. The sharp focus on the subject highlights intricate details. Well done on framing such a captivating and intimate portrait!👍

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you, Manuela🙏

Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 4d

The composition pulls you into the fungus's wavy textures and zoned patterns, showcasing its natural art. The dark background adds dramatic contrast for an ethereal glow, while the lighting emphasizes velvety pores and gradients. Well done on this enchanting woodland capture!👍

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 4d

The composition is engaging, with the flowers filling the frame in a natural, cascading arrangement. The natural lighting highlights the delicate veining on the petals, giving them a textured, almost painterly quality👍

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 4d

This young lady has not taken the ritual to the extreme as the other girl has. Note the scratches on the calves, which I will explain in a future post.

Girls in seclusion tightly tie cords around their legs to increase the size and weight of the calf. They also partake in the skin scraping ritual.

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 5d

I want to approach every cultural practice with curiosity, not criticism. By understanding the deeper meaning for the people who live it, we can truly appreciate and help preserve that culture. Thank you for recognizing that effort!🙏

Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you, I appreciate it🙏

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 5d

There is no readily available evidence that this specific cultural practice has led to such a severe outcome and has been medically documented.

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you, Bernard, very kind of you🙏

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 5d

The physical change to the calves is generally considered to be a permanent or near-permanent aesthetic feature that women carry into adulthood.

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Vanishing and Endangered Cultures @nowaykgn.bsky.social · 5d

While the long period of tight binding is specifically part of the puberty seclusion ritual (marking the transition to womanhood), the women often continue to wear woven cotton ligatures (or other types of decorative bands) on their calves even after the seclusion ends.

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