Kinship

Godparenthood and sponsorship are essential to Ka'apor sociology. They are present in two of the main rituals of Ka'apor: the naming ceremony and shamanism. The naming ceremony, included in the ritual beer drinking, is vital for identifying people and ensuring the health of children. In shamanism, the encounter between the shaman and his assistant godchildren, the "auxiliary spirits," is essential for restoring the health of an ill person. We describe and analyze how godparenthood establishes naming and shamanhood. Godparenthood and sponsorship are both sustained and created for the main institutional ceremony of the Ka'apor, which ensures health after confinement. Meanwhile, shamanry, a revitalizing rite, is the in-between moment when spiritual godchildren are attracted to provide information to the shaman godfather about the origin of diseases and assist him in the search for a cure. The comparison between ritual godparenthood and post-natal confinement shows that both act similarly. Godparenthood and sponsorship require attention to a generic moral value, pɪhu-katu-ha, which indicates conduct based on respect, care, cooperation, confinement, and civility. This analysis is based on audiovisual recordings that make up our documentary collection hosted by the Endangered Languages Archive (ELAR).