Adana Omágua Kambeba is a Brazilian doctor training to become a shaman, integrating Indigenous healing practices with modern medicine. Despite facing societal prejudice, she successfully pursued her medical degree and seeks to provide healthcare within her Kambeba community. Adana advocates for the importance of Indigenous perspectives in medicine and aims to mediate healthcare conflicts while upholding her cultural traditions.
Adana Omágua Kambeba, a Brazilian doctor, began her journey as a healer in childhood, engaging with plants and offering advice to adults. As an adult, her grandmother revealed that she had inherited a role in the lineage of healers from the Kambeba group, affirming that her path in medicine was chosen for her. Despite her father’s skepticism regarding her aspirations due to their impoverished background, she maintained unwavering faith in her mission to amalgamate medical practice with shamanic traditions.
Adana, also known as Danielle Soprano Pereira, exemplifies a new generation of Indigenous individuals gaining access to higher education in Brazil, facilitated by affirmative action. Upon attending university, she became the first Indigenous Amazonian enrolled in a prestigious medical program, facing challenges such as prejudice and a rigid academic structure. Ultimately, she chose to prioritize her well-being amidst overwhelming demands, taking a more personalized approach to her studies.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Adana experienced significant trials yet graduated in March 2022, an accomplishment marked by symbolic resistance against historical barriers. She previously worked at a maternity hospital and has since left her positions to engage with over thirty Kambeba communities. Adana’s mission includes providing essential medical services and conducting workshops addressing critical health issues while undergoing training as a pajé, a spiritual leader.
As part of her shamanic trials, Adana will participate in rituals involving ayahuasca, a plant known for its introspective properties, to test her worthiness. Concurrently, she advocates for Indigenous health perspectives and seeks funding for her initiatives. Recently, she articulated her views on Indigenous medicinal practices at a notable conference, urging that Indigenous communities must be integral to discussions about their ancestral knowledge in the face of growing scientific interest.
The systemic challenges faced by Indigenous healthcare professionals are highlighted by experts, noting that many Indigenous individuals hold lower-tier positions in health systems. Adana’s quest to bridge Indigenous and biomedical approaches often involves mediating conflicts between Western medical practices and Indigenous beliefs. One instance involved her resolving a critical situation where an Indigenous child’s family resisted medical intervention, leveraging her dual identity to respectfully negotiate acceptance of necessary treatment.
Throughout her journey, Adana remains committed to her cultural roots as she seeks mentorship from experienced shamans. Should she complete her training as a pajé, she envisions a celebration that honors both Indigenous healing traditions and modern medical practices, fostering unity between the two worlds.
In summary, Adana Omágua Kambeba is a trailblazer, seamlessly integrating her medical education with her shamanic heritage. Her journey underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Indigenous health practitioners, especially in reconciling traditional practices with contemporary medical standards. Adana’s mission is to pioneer a path that honors and elevates both Indigenous and Western medicine while advocating for the rights of her community and seeking to bridge the gaps between their healing philosophies.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
