Os saberes tradicionais da Comunidade São Benedito, Poconé, Mato Grosso : revelando multiplos olhares

Abstract

The research’s objective was to characterize the main socioeconomics, cultural and environmental characteristics from São Benedito community, as well to classify the ethnic categories of the local vegetal diversity managed by the population at the different landscape unities. The chosen method was called “snowball”. The data gathering occurred by semi-structured interview, direct observation, field diary, these techniques were performed during some “walk in the woods”, at backyards, farms and even at an establishment called “casa da farinha”. A total of 41 people were interviewed (adults, being 48.78% females and 51,21% males) mostly from the community and most of the migrants live on site for more than 50 years. About the education, 61% of the interviewed had finished, or dropped out elementary school and 12,2% never studied. As to the religious aspect 100% of the interviewed are catholic. The analysis of these data allows to explain the religious manifestations at the São Beneditos festivities. At the ethnobotanical data gathering at the backyard 134 species divided in 62 families were registered. The families with higher representability were Fabaceae (14 species), Aseraceae and Lamiaceae (9 species each), Poaceae (6 species), Malvaceae (5 species), Euphorbiceae, Rubiaceae and Rutaceae (4 species each). The rest of the plant families had less than 4 representatives. Among the species the most cited in the feeding ethnocategory were the manioc (n=42), followed by the banana (n=32), gherkin (n=28), mango (n=24), pumpkin (n=22) the rest of the species had less than 22 citations. At the medicinal ethnocategory it was the boldo (n=20), Pennyroyal(n=18), wormseed and chamomile (n=16) each, rue (n=11) and Dumb Cane (n=10). At the farm the most common species were the manioc, pumpkin, sweet potato, corn, watermelon, melon, banana, gherkin and some types of beans. Amongst the grown products the manioc consists the main crops, with 91% of the citations that being the feedstock for the manufacture of the manioc flour, and the main subsistence source for the local families. The knowledge about the vegetal diversity possessed by this population is transmitted by the everyday living of these families. As of the management of the yards and farms, principally, chemical inputs and natural agricultural, the yard care are preferentially done at the dawn, that maintenance being done mostly by the women. That way, the growth of different species, the management, the goal and the way it’s used contribute for the conservation of the plants in those environment. The traditional communities are often keepers of a vegetal and cultural diversity, as well an important way of transmitting the traditional knowledge that are passed from generation to generation