The struggle for autonomy : finding a balance between Westernization and tradition in Sarayacu, Ecuadorian Amazon
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Date
2007-03
Authors
Nussbaum, Benjamin
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University Of Oregon
Abstract
The Sarayacu are an indigenous community in the Ecuadorian Amazon struggling to
maintain they define as their traditions and culture in the face of territorial challenges by
outside interests. The influx of modem Western technology, material goods and culture
due to globalization has changed the community. To protect their rights, it is necessary
for them to incorporate some Western technology, but they have also adopted some
amenities purely for convenience. They are now working to limit how this affects daily
life, establishing a precarious balance between incorporating aspects of Western
technology and culture and maintaining traditional customs and practices. If they
incorporate too much from the West, the Sarayacu risk losing their identity. If they do not
incorporate enough, they risk not being able to protect their rights. Maintaining this
balance is particularly important in their struggle for autonomy because the government
is looking for any reason to reject the community's claim for self-determination in their
territory. Furthermore, to maintain credible claims with the Ecuadorian government, Sarayacu officials must try to maintain at least the appearance of a certain degree of
traditionality. In this the balance will be discussed in the following six areas: (1) culture
and the maintenance of ancestral knowledge, (2) management of land and natural
resources, (3) health, (4) education, (5) money, and (6) cultural tourism and ecotourism.
All of these areas are important in the establishment and maintenance of selfdetermination
and the struggle for autonomy in their territory.
In the struggle for autonomy, it is necessary to gain outside support. The search
for outside support, however, illuminates many problems the Sarayacu face because of
their identification as an indigenous group. To cultivate relationships with local
indigenous and non-indigenous groups as well as national and international
organizations, community officials take advantage of something called "symbolic
capital," described as the resources available to the Sarayacu because of the outside
perception of them as "bearers of tradition." By using symbolic capital, community
leaders are employing something called strategic essentialism because of the simplistic
nature in which it portrays the community. These conflicts over identity affect everything
the community administrators try to do in their struggle for autonomy. Despite these
difficulties, the Sarayacu, as a community, provide a good example for other indigenous
communities on how to deal with outside pressures to modernize, while maintaining
strong ties to tradition and culture.
Description
x, 81 p. A THESIS Presented to the Department of Political Science
and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts, March 2007. A print copy of this title is available through the UO Libraries under the call number: SCA Archiv Nussbaum 2007