Abstract

TOLA, Florencia. “After death, let us enjoy on earth or in the celestial world.” Conceptions of death among Toba (qom) people of the Argentinean Chaco. Alteridades [online]. 2006, vol.16, n.32, pp.153-164. ISSN 2448-850X.

This paper approaches the conceptions of death and life after death among the Toba (Qom) people of the Argentinean Chaco. Specifically, it studies the notion of person, which is implicit in the qom representations of death and in the continuity of the existence after death. The description of the funeral practices leads to the analysis of the emotions implied in them. First of all, this work presents the characteristics of the social life of dead people and the role of the body in the existence of the person. The funeral practices allow exploring the ‘predatory’ attitude of the deceased person. Finally, it mentions the consequences that the death of a relative has within the kinship system.

Keywords : death; funeral practices; notion of person; indigenous Toba; Grand Chaco.

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