Seu Roque's narratives: encantados and encantarias on Santana Island, Amapá

Abstract

This article investigates narratives about encantados and encantarias from the perspective of Pedro Cardoso, known as "Seu Roque," a healer from the Ilha de Santana in Amapá. The research highlights the importance of these beliefs, considered essential to Amazonian culture, and explores the intersection between traditional knowledge and cultural identity in shaping an environmental ethic. Using the Oral History methodology, the study captures marginalized voices and enriches the analysis of lived experiences in riverine communities, revealing how Seu Roque's stories reflect the connection between spirituality, nature, and daily practices. The narratives, which address themes such as respect for the forest and water, emphasize cultural resilience in the face of modernity and colonial pressures. Furthermore, the work proposes a reflection on the need to value local experiences and promote inclusive education that recognizes the cultural and epistemological diversity of the Amazon. Thus, the stories of encantados not only preserve ancestral knowledge but also strengthen Amazonian identity and offer a form of resistance to contemporary challenges.