The Ethnobotany of Brasilians in the Los Angeles Basin Laurel Skinner LA 4782-02
Ethnographic Study of Brasilians- Region Homeland region: Brasil is located in South America 8,459,417 square kilometers of land Became independent in 1822 Language: Portuguese Population of 205,716,890 The capital is Brasilia (World Atlas, n.d.). Predominantly coastal population (2018 Index of Economic Freedom, 2018) Largest country in South America and 5 th Largest country in the world (Rosa, 2011) Brazilians are considered Latinx but not Hispanic. Those from countries who speak Portuguese are Lusitanic instead. (Brightwell, 2016) (John in Brazil, n.d.)
Economy of Brasil In 2016 the President (Michel Temer) has promoted slowing the growth of government spending. Personal income rate tax is 27.5% Government spending has been 40.5% of total GDP (2018 Index of Economic Freedom, 2018) Most significant industries: Aircraft and ships, Steel, Iron ore, Armaments, Textiles, Petroleum, Various Chemicals, Soybeans, Mining/minerals, Coffee, Cotton, Fetilisers, Telecommunications equipment , electronics, transportation equipment, footwear, cement, hydroelectricity. Predominanly exports products to: China, USA, Argentina, Netherlands, Germany Economy also depends on tourism Labor forces are predominantly: Agriculture, 20%, Industry, 14%, and Services 66% (Focus Economics, 2016) GDP is predominantly: Agriculture, 5.5%, Industry, 28.7%, Services, 65.8% 16% of Brasilians live below the poverty line 6% are unemployed (Meyer, 2010 c.)
Ethnographic Study of Brasilians- Native Groups Indigenous nations within Brasil include: Aimoré, Amanyé, Atikum, Awá-Guajá, Baniwa, Bará, Botocudo, Caeté, Carijó, Charrúa, Enawene Nawe, Goitacá, Guaraní, Kadiwéu, Kaingang, Kamayurá, Karajá, Kaxinawá, Kayapo, Kokama, Korubo, Kubeo, Kulina Madihá, Makuxi, Matsés, Mayoruna, Mbya, Munduruku, Mura, Nambikwara, Ofayé, Pai Tavytera, Paiter, Panará, Pankararu, Pataxó, Pirahã, Potiguara, Potiguara, Sateré Mawé, Suruí do Pará, Tabajara, Tamoio, Tapirape, Temiminó, Terena, Ticuna, Tremembé, Tupi, Tupinambá, Tupiniquim, Waorani, Wapixana, Wauja, Witoto, Xakriabá, Xavante, Xukuru, and Yanomami (Inoue & Moreira, 2017) (Brightwell, 2016)
Ethnographic Study of Brasilians- Immigration In In 1500 Pedro Alveras Cabrel, from Portugal, invaded Brazil Africans were brought over as slaves, enslaved alongside the indigenous groups such as Ewe, Fanti-Ashanti, Yoruba. Harvest Brazilwood 8% of Brazilians have African Ancestory 40% of abducted Africans went to Brazil Other waves of immigration came from China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, & Ukraine San Paulo has the largest enclave of Japanese individuals outside of Japan. (Brightwell, 2016) (Dino Plant, n.d.)
Natural Climate of Brasil Brazil is a large country that is incredibly varied in climate, terrain, and biomes. All based on what region one is in. There are essentially four different major regions of Brazil's climate Equatorial Zone, Semi-Arid Zone, Highland Tropical Zone, Subtropical Zone Northeast is driest portion Coastal cities are usually warmer (Meyer, 2010 a.). 90% of the country is considered tropical On average rainfall is 39.37 inches to (Climate Change, 2016) 59.05 inches (The Geography Site, n.d.)
Equatorial Zone What is typically thought of as "Brasil" Night temperatures significantly drop Heavy and frequent rain Dense vegetation Humidity is year round Usually overcast The temperature is typically between 77 F and 82 F Usually the temperature does not exceed 91.4 degrees F (Meyer, 2010 a.). (The Golf Club, n.d.)
Semi-Arid Zone Midway point between desert and humid forest Vegetation: shrubs and grasses Not many trees Sub categories: hot semi-arid climates cold semi-arid climates (Meyer, 2010 a.). Rainfall is sparse. Drought cycles occur every seven years. Northeast is the driest area. Sertão region is used for “low density ranching” (The Geography Site, n.d.) (Fernando Ricci, 2018)
Highland Tropical Zone Uniform rainfall Also known as oceanic climate or maritime climate These zones temperature does not go below 64.4 F Cool summers and warm winters (Meyer, 2010 a.). There are luxuriant hardwood forests on the Eastern seaboard (Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.d. b.) Supplies the majority of minerals the country has. (Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.d. a.) (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018)
Subtropical Zone Just outside of tropical zones Is hot but not as much as these tropic zones Winters mild & cold, with no snow and frost Rainfall varies by sea level (Meyer, 2010 a.). Includes cities: Porto Alegre and Curitiba Is similar to parts of the USA and Europe. (The Geography Site, n.d.) (Bookings, n.d.)
Brasilian Relationship to Natural Environment- Food Food in Brasil is divided into 4 essential categories, largely based on a mix of indigenous food and influences from cuisine from around the world Center-West (Goias), North (Acre, Amazonas, Amapa, Para, Rondonia, Roraima, Tocantins), Northeast (Pernambuco and Bahia), Southeast (Rio de Janeiro, San Paulo, & Minas Gerais) Typical indigenous ingredients include: acai, cashews, cassava, chili, cumaru, cupuacu, guarana, guava, hog plums, maize, manioc, passion fruit, peanuts, pineapples, pinhao, tomatoes, tucupi, ducks, fish (Brightwell, 2016) (Ennes, n.d.) Root vegetables are commonly used Typically most popular fruits include: Mangos, pappayas (called paw paws), guavas, granndillas, and pinneaples. (Meyer, 2010 b.)
Immigrant Influence on Relationship to Plants Europeans brought over: wheat, wine, pigs, cows, dairy Africans brought over: okra Influence of African cooking is most evident in coastal areas North American influences include: Papaya Asians brought over: mangos, oranges, rice and star fruit Japanese influence in cooking has influenced the making of empanadas (Brains for Brunch, 2012) (Brightwell, 2016) The influence of immigrants makes food varied by geographic location. (Meyer, 2010 b.) Brasilian Chicken with Okra
Medicine in Brasil Traditional medicine is part of Brasilian heritage The Brasilian Unified Public Health System (SUS) currently lists 71 plants of interest that they could develop into potential drugs (Mazzari & Prieto, 2014) 66% of the population has no access to commercial medicines (Mazzari & Prieto, 2014) SUS started in 1988 Brazilian law “ health is everyone’s right and duty of the state, guaranteed through social and economic policies aiming at reducing the risk of any illness and other disorders and providing universal and equalitarian access to actions and services for its promotion, protection, and recovery ” In the SUS Traditional Medicine has been used to fight Dengue Allowance for alternative and traditional medicine by the Policy of Integrative and Complementary Practices (PNPIC) Includes: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Herbal Medicine, Anthroposophical Medicine & Hydrotherapy-Crenotherapy (Rosa, 2011). (Guimaraes de Lima e Silva, 2014)
Goiania/Goias Goiania, located in the state of Goias is the 12 th most populated city in Brasil There is an Alternative Medicine Hospital (Brasil Turismo, n.d.) Started with Ayurveda medicine in the 1980’s It includes a garden were medical plants are grown There is consultants in herbal medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, psychology, nutrition, social work, nursing, physiotherapy (Rosa, 2011)
How Destruction of the Rainforest is Changing Ethnobotany in Brasil 20% of the Amazon rainforest has already been lost (World Wildlife Fund, n.d.) In Amazonia herbal remedies make up a large amount of healthcare. New land-use putting pressure on native plants used for medicine. Pressures include: mining, logging, ranching, agricultura Forest based communities find it increasingly difficult to find trees producing medicinal oils, exudates, and barks May have guards at certain trees now Most at risk are plants that grow slowly, are low density with very specific hábitat requirements High amazonia biodiversity means low density of individual species (Shanley & Luz, 2003) (World Wildlife Fund, n.d.)
Migration into the USA-Timeline The first wave of immigration happen in the 1960's In the 1980's there was a financial crisis in Brazil that lead to 1.4 million Brazilians leaving There are an estimated 10,000 Brazilians in the Los Angeles Basin 30% of those live in Palms and Culver City No "Little Brasil" established in Los Angeles In 1991 the first two Brazilian businesses opened in Los Angeles (Davies & Associates LLC., n.d.) Bamboo Restuarant (Culver City) and Cafe Brasil (Venice) In 1994 Zambumba opened, but closed in 2012. In 2007 the Brazilian Mall opened (Brightwell, 2016)
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