I’m really glad to learn about the Pipiles of El Salvador. I did not know much about El Salvador prior to this, and had not heard of the Pipile peoples before. This post really shows the ongoing effects of cultural genocide and it’s important to remember the terrible acts that happened in the past so they do not get repeated. It is so unfortunate that the colonization and cultural genocide, which was played out through not only the murders of the Pipil people but the loss of their culture and repression of their language, was a key part of the modern economy we know today. I heard someone say before that that is a key tenant of colonization or a ‘conquering’ of a peoples, by taking away their culture, their identity, they become easier to control (and thus more easily fuel the modern economy). I am glad there are organizations seeking to help them today, but hopefully more will get started soon, and hopefully the shame and stigma they still face will be dissolved.
Unit 5 Reflections on the film ‘Hija de la Laguna’
I woke up very early this morning and could not think of anything better to do than get started on homework, and the next thing on my list was watching the film assigned for this week, ‘Hija de la Laguna’, which felt odd to be watching at 5am!
The film focuses mainly on mineral extraction in a few regions throughout South America and its impacts on the local landscape and its indigenous inhabitants. A large portion of the film was committed to attempts by police/government to scare indigenous land owners off of their land so they can have access to the gold or whatever mineral they are looking for. Repeatedly it is stated that these attempts are fuelled by greed and it makes me really think about how violence is so often driven by greed. Throughout history there would have been fighting between and within groups of people, mainly for access to resources, but at what point does that cross the line into greed? When someone has everything they need and yet they still want more and will fight for it with little regard for others [who may need it more than them], is when greed becomes apparent. This is one of the huge pitfalls of modern society, the mentality that nothing is ever enough and it creates toxicity in the minds of people and on the planet only to meet self-serving desires.
Some thoughts that came to me during watching the film were the echoes of colonialism that were apparent. The two indigenous women walking in the dried fields talking about their potato harvest and how they used to be able to grow them much bigger before tin extraction ruined the landscape. These women spoke perfect Spanish, a language that was not their own but was introduced to their people and in reality forced upon them as part of assimilation and control (I am aware that many now view the fluency as an opportunity which I am not suggesting it is not, but it originally was forced by colonizers). I was also struck by the religious icon, which appeared to be christ, that the indigenous people in Peru were gathered around and praying to, who looked so caucasian and imperial. The icon literally looked like a spaniard, like the old drawings you see of Spanish colonizers and here they were praying to the very symbol they are fighting against (if you can understand mineral extraction as being a result of being included in a global economy which is the direct result of colonization and assimilation). These scenes showed the ongoing effects of colonization and how indigenous groups are living with these effects and using them to (in the case of language, education and other tactics that were used for assimilation) in turn fight to protect their lands and their people.
Keyword Reflection #2: Extraction/Extractivism
This week I was really drawn to the post made about extraction by international companies (usually from wealthy, “western” countries) extracting resources in less wealthy countries such as in South America, where our class is focused. I have read articles on this topic before and what I am always struck by is not only the lack of respect for nature and the people (in the surrounding areas of the point of extraction) by entering into an untouched area (if it is the first time extraction is taking place there) and taking a resource that they have no title to and sending it off to the world market, but also the fact that it is done so poorly and with such little attention to detail and care that then the people and the environment are left sick. They may get monetary compensation but that is nothing if someone doesn’t have their health, and they may end up spending all of that money on medical bills anyways.
It’s really a clear example of how colonialism continues today and with very little concern for others. Another clear example of this is that our waste is not dumped in our own backyard but exported elsewhere where it can cause health problems to the people in the surrounding areas, water contamination and wildlife die off. The fact that this continues to happen even though many of us and political leaders are aware of it, just shows the lack of concern, especially for poor countries.
Week 2 reflections
I have taken many indigenous studies classes and been interested in our food system and world food systems for many years (I am a mature student) so the readings assigned this week reminded me of other readings I have read, and I believe one of them I read years ago for another class.
It is very important to rethink our education system and what I found interesting many years ago when I took my first indigenous studies class and still find interesting to this day, is that I do not like the current educational system that Smith refers to as the Western education and I was always more of a fan of the way that indigenous studies classes were taught and the ways methods of learning were practised. This makes me wonder if other settler offspring have a similar experience, because the article seems to be written with the assumption that others enjoy it, when in fact that has not been my experience at all. I am all for change and ready to see it take its many different forms that are being brought about.
The other articles that goes more into food and food growing did not really bring up any new points that I had not been previously introduced to, but really highlighted to me how food – this driving force for society, is so inherently valuable yet so undervalued in society. A lot of food is imported to Canada and the US from Mexico where it can be produced and purchased for as cheaply as possible, using the cheapest, fastest and least environmentally friendly methods of cultivation and transportation and yet it is, like Belasco says “the single most important cause of death and disease”. This food exportation may be in the face of local starvation of people in Mexico, and degradation of the landscape and local peoples health. The reality that gatherers of wild foods here in Canada, many of which are indigenous peoples, do not make a good profit off of the sales of that food discourages local food production. (Some indigenous groups do not believe in the sale of wild food for profit so in some cases that is not an option but I am talking about people who are trying to make a living off of the sale of these foods)
Agriculturalists in Canada do not get paid well especially if they are farming holistically and organically – famers get government subsidies for doing commercial, mono-cropped, chemical ridden farming otherwise it is very difficult to make a decent living – this further discourages the production of food locally, especially amongst young people. Our food systems need to be better localized, more environmentally friendly and people need to be willing to pay higher prices for it.
Hello world!
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I am from
I am from poem:
I am from the Olive tree,
From the plains,
and the Aegean Sea.
I am from tomatoes, abundant, life-giving, juicy.
From tree huggers,
From Carol,
and Gill
From Milkweed
and chamomile.
I am from the hoe,
harvesting,
potatoes,
brassica oleacea
and gathering.
Hi I am Christina and I am in my last term of an anthropology degree. I needed to take an upper level elective and this seemed like a great fit. I am very interested in food, indigenous cultures and Latin America. I am excited to learn more about indigenous groups on that continent and food practises! I spent a month on a permaculture farm on Mayan territory about 5 years ago where I worked alongside Mayan people and saw the little huts were they lived and learned a little about their way of life. I have also met some of the Mayan’s who work the Mayan garden at UBC farm!