I am, Still
Joop Swart 2020,
It's A daily life story that explores the world of the indigenous new generation as a rebirth without fear of colonialism, the youth that decided to stay in their land, with their family, and develop a lifestyle that combines the modernity and the ancestral knowledge facing the “mestizaje” with the strength of their identity show us other possible ways of living in harmony with nature and ourselves
When I started this story, my childhood memories came back to me, the mountains, the family meals, and those cold mornings with the sound of the river. My memories become more and more blurred, but, in this community, the young people did not let these experiences be a thing of the past. They combine their day between trips to the mountains, YouTube videos, education through WhatsApp, and caring for the animals.
In Ecuador, around 7% of the population is indigenous. During the last century, racism and discrimination played a leading role in a model of life where inequality forced many to migrate to the city, abandoning their territory and culture. Globalization impacted the devaluation of indigenous identity but at the same time fueled an unpredictable cultural resistance in youth. This generation decides not to go out, stay in their communities, and lead the defense of the land and culture, creating another way of living and being.
When I started this story, my childhood memories came back to me, the mountains, the family meals, and those cold mornings with the sound of the river. My memories become more and more blurred, but, in this community, the young people did not let these experiences be a thing of the past. They combine their day between trips to the mountains, YouTube videos, education through WhatsApp, and caring for the animals.
In Ecuador, around 7% of the population is indigenous. During the last century, racism and discrimination played a leading role in a model of life where inequality forced many to migrate to the city, abandoning their territory and culture. Globalization impacted the devaluation of indigenous identity but at the same time fueled an unpredictable cultural resistance in youth. This generation decides not to go out, stay in their communities, and lead the defense of the land and culture, creating another way of living and being.