Most interesting about your friend in Brazil, and the communities there where everyone enjoys tobacco
I've been ridiculously lucky in my life in that I have been afforded the rare opportunity to live part time in that country. My wife grew up there and does participatory research with waste pickers in Brazil, which is just a fancy way of saying that instead of being a typical academic who goes there to "study" people and leave, she embeds with them and becomes a part of their group to give them an equal say in how the research is directed and what comes out of it so that the work benefits them in ways that they determine are needed. It's being going on for well over a decade now.
I find the work fascinating.
One of the most interesting outcomes -I think- was from a female waste picker who overcame alcoholism and an abusive husband (not to mention abject poverty) who went on to speak in front of the UN. That's a whole other story of meeting interesting people in interesting places and seeing first hand what amazing things are possible if people are just given a chance to live without poverty and threat.
Through my wife, I've been introduced to the most amazing people. Just got lucky in finding an incredible wife who tolerates me, I guess. My friend with the indigenous connection is a marvel to walk through the jungle with. His father grew up in a tribe in the jungle and passed on a depth of knowledge that is rare in this world. More than any university degree could ever offer. My friend continued the thread and can rattle off the scientific names of every plant and tree we encounter (that's saying a hell of a lot in the jungle). But then, he adds the indigenous stories that have been passed down. Like "She is a trickster of a plant, my friend! You must not fall asleep under her, because sometimes, you will not wake up again."
He lives in Sao Paulo, which is a city that looks like they had a fire sale on concrete and it has never stopped. His solution is to grow trees and plants at his house and he transplants them illegally throughout the city and takes care of them until they are growing to bring back nature. Just a wonderful person that I wish everyone could know. He's not complaining about things. He's just doing his bit to make it a better world and he's never asking for recognition.
The tribe he introduced me to is not far from Sao Paulo, but far enough to escape the reaches of that place for now. Many Tupi have been "relocated" -displaced- by development, and this group is one of them, but have found a new home in the jungle. They want to be left alone, but it is difficult. Many missionaries feel it is their duty to convert them and "bring them to civilization". But they know what this is and reject it. They're constantly showing up though.
I have other friends, who are missionaries -an unlikely, but interesting friendship- and we have talked a great deal about this. We just have very different perspectives. I'm not religious, but I can see from them, that they genuinely believe they are doing the right thing by trying to "save" these groups of indigenous people who practice their own ways of spiritual living. It's a matter of life and death for the very soul, from their point of view. I don't like it, but I understand it better from them. It's a difficult situation.
But, I have a similar view to yours. In meeting these people and seeing how rich and interesting and connected with nature their culture is, I kind of wish that they were the missionaries spreading the word about how they live and interact with the natural world. There are a lot of amazing lessons there. Pipe smoking being just one of them! If it all goes to crap, I'm reasonably sure these people will be the ones most able to survive a world without easy access to modern convenience.
I wish everyone had the opportunity to meet these people. It's really incredible to encounter that kind of diversity in culture. I hope it is not eventually lost, despite the grim odds.
