The pristine and devenir in long-term indigenous history in the Amazon

Abstract

In discussions of the Amazon’s lengthy indigenous history, the narrative that considers temporal landmarks generally remains tied to Western chronology. In other words, although most researchers consider indigenous history to be an important reality, the very epistemological scope of the human sciences forces indigenous temporalities to fit into the chronological paradigms of the west. To avoid this epistemological pitfall, historical time must be narrated according to the emergence and duration of events, going beyond their pristine origins and seeking their devenir instead of manifestations of these events. Based on the work of authors such as Bergson, Deleuze and Braudel, in this essay we propose that indigenous history in the Amazon unfolds along two structuring processes that evolved over time according to the persistence and resilience of this history in the proper place for Amerindian social and cultural experiences.