Etnografía del rito: reciprocidad y ritual funerario entre los guajiros

Abstract

This paper presents the syntagmatic analysis of the first burial among the wayuu, a group of indians known in South America under the name of "guajiros". This research is based on two main techniques. First, observaron and participation, and second, interviews with some guajiros, specially with the oldest ones. Finally, we discuss how funerary rituals play a role in the education of young guajiro indians through the system of social reciprocity.