Use of bee wax by the Pankararé Indians in Raso da Catarina, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

The Pankararé and Brejo do Burgo Indigenous Land are situated at setentrional edge of Raso da Catarina, Northeast Bahia (9º15’S and 38º 35’/38º25’W). The Pankararé people are concentrated in the localities of Brejo do Burgo (40Km far from Paulo Afonso), Serrota (6Km south from Brejo do Burgo), the Chico’s canyon, areas at low plateau, and Ponta D’água (4km east from Brejo do Burgo), municipality of Glória. Despite of everyday use of beewax by Pankararé, information about the usage of beewax by Indigenous Pankararé is first presented here. Considering the historical importance of wax and its diversified uses by indigenous groups, the present work recorded the usages of beewax, emphasizing Pankararé’ art craft and domestic uses of beewax. Wax from the stingless bee (Frieseomelitta doederleini Friese 1900) and Africanized bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus 1758) is used in art craft, candles, musical instruments, to calk and glue, meaning that this cultural practice is still integrated to Pankarar's lifestyle, both for art craft and domestic purposes.