article

Marriage and Terena tribal solidarity: an essay in structural analysis

American indigena21 • Published In 1961 • Pages: 233-252

By: Oliveira, Roberto Cardoso de, Kietzman, Dale W..

Abstract
This article is a structural analysis of the Terena marriage and social stratification systems, based on field work in 1955-58, under the auspices of the Indian Protective Service and the Division of Anthropology of the National Museum of Brazil. The author considers the Terena marriage and social stratification systems as two major structural elements which have promoted social solidarity among the Terena people and made the survival of Terena culture possible despite a history of relocation from Paraguayan Chaco to Brazilian Mato Grosso. Since there are no written data of pre-nineteenth century Terena, Oliveira gathered his ethnographic data through interviews with older Terenans, by evoking their memories of tribal society, which has long since ceased to exist. This social anthropological study of Terena is one of the few studies of Terena based on field work. It was originally written in Portuguese and has been translated into English by Dale W. Kietzman. Although some misspellings and typographical errors can be found, the data seem reliable and interesting.
Subjects
Theoretical orientation in research and its results
Classes
Moieties
Regulation of marriage
Ethnic stratification
Mythology
Aftermath of combat
culture
Terena
HRAF PubDate
2010
Region
South America
Sub Region
Southern South America
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Hesung C. Koh ; 1965: John Beierle; 2009
Field Date
1955-1958
Coverage Date
not specified
Coverage Place
Southern Mato Grosso, Brazil
Notes
Roberto Cardoso de Oliveira ; translated by Dale W. Kietzman
LCSH
Terena Indians