208
said that the changes in their community have not affected them strongly and that
there was no need to develop any adaptation strategy. Nevertheless, Garduño (2015)
quotes that primary productive activities in the Pa Ipai community, such as harvesting of palmilla, subsistence beekeeping, and other traditional practices have experienced a downtrend. This author also mentions that while primary economic activities
take place within the Yuman settlements, waged jobs must be found outside them,
resulting in 71.6% of the Yuman economically active population being migrant
(Garduño 2016).
Political Sub-Index
The three communities analyzed here face socio-ecological conflicts; in order to
explain such conflicts a political sub-index is used relating the prohibitions affecting
the right to use their natural resources. The Paipai community of Santa Catarina
recorded the highest value of political sub-index, since all interviewees mentioned
that the territory restricted to their community is respected by their neighbors. In
addition, most of the interviewees consider that socio-ecological conflicts are in the
process of being resolved by the authorities. Contrary to what happened with the Pa
Ipai Jamao community where they were dispossessed of land.
The Kumiai had a lower value because most of the interviewed people consider
their neighbors do not respect their territory. According to one interviewee, the
Kumai face territorial conflicts with the owners of a winery, which pretends to adjudicate land located within indigenous community territory. The Cucapá had the
lowest value since the interviewed people refer three types of socio-ecological conflicts: water sources, intrusion into their territory, and fishing restrictions. The water
sources conflict perceived by some interviewed Cucapá is about the decrease in
water level of the Hardy River by the US Hoover dam and the pollution of the
Salada Lagoon by wastewater discharge. Some interviewed Cucapá mentioned that
this conflict involves legal restrictions denying their recognition as native settlers—
and, therefore, having differentiated rights—that prevent them from fishing in the
Colorado River.
Social Sub-Index
The Pa Ipai had the highest value due to the communities’ optimistic vision of the
future and to equitable participation in decision making; an indispensable element
for the achievement of development in rural areas. Analyzing the interviews, we can
say that the Kumiai have also achieved a combination of modern and traditional
knowledge in education, food, and medicine.
D. Galván-Martínez et al.
said that the changes in their community have not affected them strongly and that
there was no need to develop any adaptation strategy. Nevertheless, Garduño (2015)
quotes that primary productive activities in the Pa Ipai community, such as harvesting of palmilla, subsistence beekeeping, and other traditional practices have experienced a downtrend. This author also mentions that while primary economic activities
take place within the Yuman settlements, waged jobs must be found outside them,
resulting in 71.6% of the Yuman economically active population being migrant
(Garduño 2016).
Political Sub-Index
The three communities analyzed here face socio-ecological conflicts; in order to
explain such conflicts a political sub-index is used relating the prohibitions affecting
the right to use their natural resources. The Paipai community of Santa Catarina
recorded the highest value of political sub-index, since all interviewees mentioned
that the territory restricted to their community is respected by their neighbors. In
addition, most of the interviewees consider that socio-ecological conflicts are in the
process of being resolved by the authorities. Contrary to what happened with the Pa
Ipai Jamao community where they were dispossessed of land.
The Kumiai had a lower value because most of the interviewed people consider
their neighbors do not respect their territory. According to one interviewee, the
Kumai face territorial conflicts with the owners of a winery, which pretends to adjudicate land located within indigenous community territory. The Cucapá had the
lowest value since the interviewed people refer three types of socio-ecological conflicts: water sources, intrusion into their territory, and fishing restrictions. The water
sources conflict perceived by some interviewed Cucapá is about the decrease in
water level of the Hardy River by the US Hoover dam and the pollution of the
Salada Lagoon by wastewater discharge. Some interviewed Cucapá mentioned that
this conflict involves legal restrictions denying their recognition as native settlers—
and, therefore, having differentiated rights—that prevent them from fishing in the
Colorado River.
Social Sub-Index
The Pa Ipai had the highest value due to the communities’ optimistic vision of the
future and to equitable participation in decision making; an indispensable element
for the achievement of development in rural areas. Analyzing the interviews, we can
say that the Kumiai have also achieved a combination of modern and traditional
knowledge in education, food, and medicine.
D. Galván-Martínez et al.