Indigenous wisdom for reconciliation of the self : re-narrating Mexican identity

Gabriela Coronado Suzán

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    Abstract

    In all colonial histories relationships between Indigenous peoples and the rest of society have been characterised by violence, discrimination, political exclusion and the marginalisation of Indigenous cultures from being integral to social identity. In Mexico the denial of Indigenous cultures as constitutive of the Mexican self has produced a fragmented identity which lacks integrity and pride, inhibiting growth and creativity in Mexican multiculture. In this paper I reflect on the symbolic meaning of the movement for reconciliation in Australia in contrast with the Mexican situation, to bring out alternative strategies for reconciliation implicit in Indigenous practices in Mexico. Using Mexican Indigenous cultural practices as metaphors for symbolic healing I explore two instances of Mexican Indigenous wisdom: the healing practices of Indigenous peoples today and the discourse of the Zapatistas, an Indigenous army fighting for peace and social, political and cultural rights. I propose using the Indian model for healing as a form of narrative therapy for healing the Mexican self. Re-narrating Mexican identity as a process of healing by symbols and words reminds Mexicans who we are and makes it possible to achieve reconciliation, which in the case of Mexican society can be interpreted as self-reconciliation.
    Original languageEnglish
    Number of pages20
    JournalCentre for Cultural Research Occasional Paper Series
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010

    Keywords

    • Australia
    • Mexico
    • healing
    • identity
    • indigenous peoples
    • narrative therapy
    • reconciliation
    • signs and symbols
    • tOPICS
    • wisdom

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