210
Cultural Sub-Index
This is the index where intercultural issues arise. There is a mixture of old traditions
and modern activities that coincide. Important is that the three communities agree
that their traditions and oral expressions are what they like most about their indigenous culture. However, each community faces particular challenges scenarios.
Regarding language, intercultural issues would be the proportion of Spanish and
native language spoken. Among the Cucapá most interviewees are proud of their
traditions and oral expressions, which contrasts with the small number of speakers
who speak fluently, a circumstance that has led some authorities say they are no
longer “fully indigenous” (Muehlmann 2012).
In the same way, the Kumiai most interviewees mentioned that what they like
most about their culture are oral traditions and expressions (language and stories).
However, Wilken (2012) found that 71% of fluent speakers were older adults
(60 years of age or older), revealing a strong association between age and language
use. This implies making urgent efforts of documentation and revitalization of the
Kumiai language. In that sense, Leyva (2014) emphasizes that “will be the households, stakeholders in perpetuating the transmission of knowledge, and youth
attracted to preserve their culture.” The Pa Ipai referred that the traditions and oral
expressions are the aspects that they liked most of their culture, some respondents
mentioned enthusiastically that a National Institute of Indigenous Language program is developing in their community for promoting the practice and teaching of
the Pa Ipai language. Being fully bilingual would be a key issue for intercultural
assessments.
The Cucapá protect their culture by transmitting to the new generations, through
fostering the participation of children and youth people in cultural festivals. It is
important to emphasize the role of the Cucapá women, not only in the care and
transmission of their culture, but also in defense of their territory, projects execution, and leadership in fishing organizations (Villareal 2014). Intercultural behaviors mix traditional and modern activities. Most fishers combine technologies with
modern businesses. As well, in the daily cooking these intercultural influences
arise as shown by co-author Gutiérrez (2017) in the Kumiai women. Figure 12.3
shows that the Pa Ipai are closer to reaching sustainability, although they can
increase the obtained value by developing strategies to protect their environment in
order to increase the value of the ecological sub-index, such as implementation of
a Unit of Management for the Conservation of Wildlife. Such conservation strategy has been successful in indigenous communities like the Maya in Yucatan
(Retana-Guiascón et al. 2011) because it allows them to use the resources in a
sustainable way and implementing strategies to preserve them for the future
generations.
D. Galván-Martínez et al.
Cultural Sub-Index
This is the index where intercultural issues arise. There is a mixture of old traditions
and modern activities that coincide. Important is that the three communities agree
that their traditions and oral expressions are what they like most about their indigenous culture. However, each community faces particular challenges scenarios.
Regarding language, intercultural issues would be the proportion of Spanish and
native language spoken. Among the Cucapá most interviewees are proud of their
traditions and oral expressions, which contrasts with the small number of speakers
who speak fluently, a circumstance that has led some authorities say they are no
longer “fully indigenous” (Muehlmann 2012).
In the same way, the Kumiai most interviewees mentioned that what they like
most about their culture are oral traditions and expressions (language and stories).
However, Wilken (2012) found that 71% of fluent speakers were older adults
(60 years of age or older), revealing a strong association between age and language
use. This implies making urgent efforts of documentation and revitalization of the
Kumiai language. In that sense, Leyva (2014) emphasizes that “will be the households, stakeholders in perpetuating the transmission of knowledge, and youth
attracted to preserve their culture.” The Pa Ipai referred that the traditions and oral
expressions are the aspects that they liked most of their culture, some respondents
mentioned enthusiastically that a National Institute of Indigenous Language program is developing in their community for promoting the practice and teaching of
the Pa Ipai language. Being fully bilingual would be a key issue for intercultural
assessments.
The Cucapá protect their culture by transmitting to the new generations, through
fostering the participation of children and youth people in cultural festivals. It is
important to emphasize the role of the Cucapá women, not only in the care and
transmission of their culture, but also in defense of their territory, projects execution, and leadership in fishing organizations (Villareal 2014). Intercultural behaviors mix traditional and modern activities. Most fishers combine technologies with
modern businesses. As well, in the daily cooking these intercultural influences
arise as shown by co-author Gutiérrez (2017) in the Kumiai women. Figure 12.3
shows that the Pa Ipai are closer to reaching sustainability, although they can
increase the obtained value by developing strategies to protect their environment in
order to increase the value of the ecological sub-index, such as implementation of
a Unit of Management for the Conservation of Wildlife. Such conservation strategy has been successful in indigenous communities like the Maya in Yucatan
(Retana-Guiascón et al. 2011) because it allows them to use the resources in a
sustainable way and implementing strategies to preserve them for the future
generations.
D. Galván-Martínez et al.