Ra Ximhai (Sep 2010)
THE HERITAGE GROUP BIOCULTURAL GUARD AS A GUARANTEE OF RESILIENCE IN SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF MEXICO
Abstract
The international canon in charge of recognising the heritage of indigenous peoples over the last decade has been structured by three converging arena: the entrepreneurship, the academic and the legal ones. Efforts from First Nations to insert themselves in decision-making processes have been fruitful, since they have achieved to establish a special committee to discuss Article 8j of the CBD. However, as years of negotiation pass by, incertitude regarding viability of the agreements has increased, due to the fact that peoples are not adequately preparing themselves to take advantage of the warranties provided. It has been proven that, when traditional practices for the protection of biocultural heritage are maintained within, resilience of the socio-ecological system is bigger, allowing for a better response to different crises, while preventing risks upon integrity and identity. The problem is that additional factors such as local climate change, have reduced availability of water, fauna and flora in situ, as well as of basic food crops and cash. This affects the capacity of peoples to maintain such protection practices, hence jeopardising a sustainable adaptive response. The model of Intercultural Universities obliges the practice of a dialogic research, which is also participatory and co-responsible, in order to detect weaknesses of socio-ecological systems and design strategies to deal with problems. This will ensure internal resilience. The major challenge faced by the Intercultural University of Mexico State is to work with the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property in order to register aspects of peoples‟ heritage in a collective way.
