The Amerindian Good Living as a Sustainable Alternative …
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to certain practices. “The imaginaries are rooted in the identities that form the cultural being; they affirm themselves as a principle of autonomy and singularity from
which they not only resist the colonization of other dominant and hegemonic cultures,
but also where they re-signify their identities. They are the roots from which worlds
can be reinvented, they are the source from where the subjects of such imaginaries
become social actors in the construction and reconstruction of their lifestyles” (Leff
2010, p. 85, our translation).
Faced with the critique of hegemonic development unconcerned about the preservation of the environment and local cultures, the theories somehow post-modern
as the environmental rationality, the epistemologies of the south, the environmental
epistemology and the post-development point to alternatives that would have “one
foot out and one foot within modernity”. In other words, they would bring in its
scope both science and modern technology, but they would not only operate with
this rationality but also with a hybridization between modern reason and traditional
ecological knowledge.
Aiming at taking advantage of all the expertise of indigenous and traditional
peoples that handle nature in a balanced manner for thousands of years, but without
giving up the use of science and technology in the monitoring and protection of
their territories for example, or in the documentary record of their culture, we aim
to analyze the GL as a sustainable alternative to Latin American development.
Thus, this article begins with an analysis of the philosophical, political and practical aspects of the good living. It finds connecting points between the proposal of the
GL and the national documents and international conventions on sustainable development such as the UN 2030 Agenda, to seek for sustainable alternatives focused
on the preservation of ecosystems and local cultures, from a critical analysis of the
hegemonic development.
It ends with the records of practical cases of Amerindian GL experienced by
peoples that from the dialogue of knowledge between ethno-knowledge and modern
science and technology, who protect their territories, preserve their biodiversity,
sustain their needs, preserve their customs and cultures and still set the example in
the fight for the preservation of standing forests in the 21st century.
2 The Amerindian Good Living-Philosophical, Political,
Practical Aspects and the Sustainability
The Amerindian GL is a way of life based on the experience and knowledge of the
peoples from Abya Ayla (Latin America) in relation to the balanced and harmonious
relationship between society and nature. Faced with the contemporary challenges
related to climate change, preservation of biodiversity, water, soil, air, and protection
of indigenous and traditional populations, the GL presents itself as an alternative to
the markedly predatory hegemonic development of nature, which is deleterious to
autochthonous populations.
261
to certain practices. “The imaginaries are rooted in the identities that form the cultural being; they affirm themselves as a principle of autonomy and singularity from
which they not only resist the colonization of other dominant and hegemonic cultures,
but also where they re-signify their identities. They are the roots from which worlds
can be reinvented, they are the source from where the subjects of such imaginaries
become social actors in the construction and reconstruction of their lifestyles” (Leff
2010, p. 85, our translation).
Faced with the critique of hegemonic development unconcerned about the preservation of the environment and local cultures, the theories somehow post-modern
as the environmental rationality, the epistemologies of the south, the environmental
epistemology and the post-development point to alternatives that would have “one
foot out and one foot within modernity”. In other words, they would bring in its
scope both science and modern technology, but they would not only operate with
this rationality but also with a hybridization between modern reason and traditional
ecological knowledge.
Aiming at taking advantage of all the expertise of indigenous and traditional
peoples that handle nature in a balanced manner for thousands of years, but without
giving up the use of science and technology in the monitoring and protection of
their territories for example, or in the documentary record of their culture, we aim
to analyze the GL as a sustainable alternative to Latin American development.
Thus, this article begins with an analysis of the philosophical, political and practical aspects of the good living. It finds connecting points between the proposal of the
GL and the national documents and international conventions on sustainable development such as the UN 2030 Agenda, to seek for sustainable alternatives focused
on the preservation of ecosystems and local cultures, from a critical analysis of the
hegemonic development.
It ends with the records of practical cases of Amerindian GL experienced by
peoples that from the dialogue of knowledge between ethno-knowledge and modern
science and technology, who protect their territories, preserve their biodiversity,
sustain their needs, preserve their customs and cultures and still set the example in
the fight for the preservation of standing forests in the 21st century.
2 The Amerindian Good Living-Philosophical, Political,
Practical Aspects and the Sustainability
The Amerindian GL is a way of life based on the experience and knowledge of the
peoples from Abya Ayla (Latin America) in relation to the balanced and harmonious
relationship between society and nature. Faced with the contemporary challenges
related to climate change, preservation of biodiversity, water, soil, air, and protection
of indigenous and traditional populations, the GL presents itself as an alternative to
the markedly predatory hegemonic development of nature, which is deleterious to
autochthonous populations.