Social and family dynamics: an ethnographic description of families of elderly kaingang individuals

Abstract

Indigenous people have specific socio-cultural organization and ethnic knowledge which is resultant of relationship with the environment in which they live and their social dynamics. These factors are related to care practices adopted by the family, being unknown to the academic community. Therefore, the objective of this research was to identify the organization and social dynamic of families of Kaingang individuals in Faxinal- PR. It is a qualitative research with ethnographic approach. Data was collected through interviews and participant observation from November 2010 to March 2011. We interviewed 25 elderlies and 20 families. Data were analyzed using ethnographic analysis, following the steps proposed by Leininger. The families weave together pieces of craftsmanship that is the main source of income for the community. There is weakness in marital relations, with frequent exchanges of spouses. Some characteristics already described to Kaingang families were highlighted such as the patriliny, the matrilocality and the uroxilocality. The autonomy of the family organization before other socio-political aspects of that community organization was also reinforced.