- El Centro de la Raza
Division of Student Affairs
The University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
http://elcentro.unm.edu - 505.277.0740
Jorge A. Garcia
University of New Mexico, El Centro de la Raza, Department Member
- Social Theory, Organic, Local & Sustainable Farming, Ethics & Social Sustainability, Social Networks, Sociology, Actor Network Theory, and 21 moreSocial Change, Social Sciences, Codex Borgia, Social Networking, Mobile Communications, Data Mining, Usability, User interfaces, Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples, Social Development in developing countries, Transnational Advocacy Networks, History, Strategic Management, Biodiversity, Indigenous Studies, Environmental Policy and Governance, Indigenous Knowledge, Human Computer Interaction, Social Network Analysis (SNA), and Chichimecasedit
The essay was published in the book Gila by Mary Ann Redding and Micheal Berhman
In 1519 the Mexica people fought their last battle against the Spanish army and their native allies. After addressing his people for the last time, Cuauhtemoc, the last speaker of the Mexica nation, met Hernan Cortez, and, the story... more
In 1519 the Mexica people fought their last battle against the Spanish army and their native allies. After addressing his people for the last time, Cuauhtemoc, the last speaker of the Mexica nation, met Hernan Cortez, and, the story tells us that he took a knife and gave it to Hernan Cortez and asked him to take away his life “for his duty to protect his people had ended.” At this very moment a new chapter in the history of Anahuac had begun. At that precise moment of confrontation between the young leader and the Spaniard a new Mexicanidad emerged. This new Mexicanidad meant a syncretism that intended to safe guard the spiritual beliefs of the Mexica people by ingraining into them the beliefs of the Catholic Church.
The purpose of this essay is to explore the issue of race, class and education in the United States. The premise in mainstream society is that class and education are related. This is because education supposedly serves as the equalizer... more
The purpose of this essay is to explore the issue of race, class and education in the United States. The premise in mainstream society is that class and education are related. This is because education supposedly serves as the equalizer between social classes. This premise leads people to believe that education can be a stepping point to a better way of life. Because the education system in the US is based on the notion of white middle class achievement ideology, and taking into account that the racial component in the US is not all white nor middle class; then I will argue that the role of the educational system should not be to superimpose white middle class values but rather to promote true cultural diversity and a systems approach to be able to undertake the education process as an interrelated and holistic component of the environment in which the student grows. In this essay, I will explore the different theoretical positions that argue both in favor and against the values of the existing educational system. In order to center my arguments in a tangible example, I do an overview of the way the Mexika people educated their children before the invasion of the Spaniards. Specifically, I introduce Tezkatlipoka, an archetype, that the Mexika used before the conquest to support the development of the members of that society. The introduction of this cultural precept is to contextualize the educational systems that might support Chicanos and Mexicanos living in the United States.
In today’s society the development of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) is imminent yet, large segments of the world remain marginalized. Our contention is that peer-to-peer and inter-institutional networks can be used to... more
In today’s society the development of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) is imminent yet, large segments of the world remain marginalized. Our contention is that peer-to-peer and inter-institutional networks can be used to connect local with global systems to close this divide. Using today virtual and digital technologies the gap can be bridged using collaboration platforms using different knowledge systems that do not simply replicate the same information. The suggested model represents forming strategic alliances for information sharing and collaboration to empower and support local systems. The examples discussed show our efforts toward an inclusive approach with communities in full partnership, resulting in: 1) providing technical language necessary to negotiate with alliance partners, 2) creating new collaborative ways to incorporate cultural knowledge that can be shared locally and globally based on different metaphysical foundations, and 3) create ways by which communities can protect their traditional knowledge.
The historical connections that people possess stem from old traditions based on a system of governance and cultural protocol that allow for alternative ways to relate to their communities, and to those around them, with respect to the... more
The historical connections that people possess stem from old traditions based on a system of governance and cultural protocol that allow for alternative ways to relate to their communities, and to those around them, with respect to the use and management of shared natural resources. For this to happen effectively, customary law needs to be recognized so that the ruling structure can shift from a top down to a bottom up model, one that will offer more participation, debate, discussion, and mutual collaboration, so that benefit will accrue to the collectivity rather than just an individual. In fact, according to Wilma Mankiller, “one of the great challenges for Indigenous Peoples in the 21st Century will be to develop practical models to capture, maintain, and pass on traditional knowledge systems and value to future generations.” To do this, Argumedo et al says that “pre-existing customary rights of traditional farmers and resource custodians also need to be recognized.” Bastida and Encina (2006) pose the following question: “are [indigenous peoples and local communities] in condition to demand the protection of their collective cultural and intellectual rights outside of the legal framework of intellectual property, which governs the terms to access their own knowledge, innovations and practices established in Article 8(J) of the Convention on Biological Diversity?” With respect to legal systems that protect traditional knowledge, the issue is this: that whereas “a number of legally binding treaties protect the inventions of industrialized countries, no such protection exists for holders of traditional knowledge, or TK, who live mainly in the South” (Argumedo et al.).
Research Interests: Indigenous Studies, Indigenous Knowledge, Indigenous Peoples Rights, Biodiversity, Indigenous ecological knowledges and practices, and 2 moreIndigenous knowledge systems and Environmental justice, global sustainability, Environmental Politics and Governance, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Education for Sustainable Development, Environmental Sustainability. Global Development and Environmental Protection
In this paper we focus our attention on an often overlooked aspect of digital heritage content, namely by whom how, and with what purpose such content is created. We evaluate digital materials that are anthropological and archaeological... more
In this paper we focus our attention on an often overlooked aspect of digital heritage content, namely by whom how, and with what purpose such content is created. We evaluate digital materials that are anthropological and archaeological in nature, both digitized archives and newly created materials. In our work and efforts to understand and represent different cultural perspectives, we have encountered differences in cultural knowledge systems that have shown the need for cross-cultural consultation and communication as an essential first step in the creation of digital content for new systems of representation and knowledge transfer. Our efforts focus on developing a new educational framework that allows for knowledge exchange at different levels and between different entities, challenging the perpetuating hierarchical relationships between community and experts
Research Interests:
La Consigna del Anáhuac, según el Señor Cuauhtémoc, nuestro honrado y nunca olvidado joven abuelo. Los toltecas perciben la realidad que se manifiesta en espacio y tiempo como “variación”. Todo lo que existe deja de ser para... more
La Consigna del Anáhuac, según el Señor Cuauhtémoc, nuestro honrado y nunca olvidado joven abuelo.
Los toltecas perciben la realidad que se manifiesta en espacio y tiempo como “variación”. Todo lo que existe deja de ser para transformarse en algo nuevo.
Los toltecas perciben la realidad que se manifiesta en espacio y tiempo como “variación”. Todo lo que existe deja de ser para transformarse en algo nuevo.
Research Interests:
Calendars are not only tools to measure time; they are also magnificent instruments to connect the cosmic time with the human time. They are doors that allow men to access the mystery of the cosmos and at the same time to correlate the... more
Calendars are not only tools to measure time; they are also magnificent instruments to connect the cosmic time with the human time. They are doors that allow men to access the mystery of the cosmos and at the same time to correlate the activities of men with the rhythm of the Stars.
Indigenous Peoples around the world continue to organize for claiming their human right to self-determination. In spite of the fact that many Indigenous Nations remain living in isolated areas, they have managed to create alliances with... more
Indigenous Peoples around the world continue to organize for claiming their human right to self-determination. In spite of the fact that many Indigenous Nations remain living in isolated areas, they have managed to create alliances with International Non-government Organizations (INGOs), which have allowed them to prevent land deforestation, human displacement, desecration of religious sites, pollution of rivers, and to further their human right to manage and control the natural resources within their communities. In this context, the development of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) has opened up new opportunities for communication and information sharing. This paper addresses social, economic, cultural and political inequalities in a global world. It focuses on the development of human networks and the use of ICT to counteract social inequality. It will be argued that in the process of development, marginalized groups can use ICTs as communication and planning tools to create social, economic and cultural development from within their own communities. The Quadruple Helix paradigm exemplified in this paper supports the notion that 1) strategic alliances that include community as an integral part can be the drivers of cultural, political and social development and 2) that in the development process ICT can also be used to generate economic opportunities
Os povos indigenas em todo o mundo continuam se organizando para reivindicar os seus direitos a sua auto-determinação. Apesar de muitas nações indigenas permanecerem vivendo em áreas isoladas, elas têm estabelecido alianças com... more
Os povos indigenas em todo o mundo continuam se organizando para reivindicar os seus direitos a sua auto-determinação. Apesar de muitas nações indigenas permanecerem vivendo em áreas isoladas, elas têm estabelecido alianças com Organizações Não-Governamentais Internacionais– ONGIs, o que lhes têm permitido impedir o desflorestamento de suas terras, o deslocamento humano, a profanação de seus sítios religiosos, a poluição dos rios; e promovido os seus direitos humanos para conduzir e controlar as riquezas naturais dentro de suas comunidades. Neste contexto, o desenvolvimento das Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação (TICs) tem propiciado novas oportunidades para a comunicação e para o compatilhar de informações. Este artigo trata das ineqüidades social, econômica, cultural e política no mundo globalizado. Será discutido que no processo de desenvolvimento, grupos considerados marginalizados podem fazer uso das TICs com a finalidade da comunicação e como ferramentas de planejamento para criar seu desenvolvimento social, econômico e cultural a partir de suas próprias comunidades. O paradigma Helix Quádruplo, como exemplificado neste artigo, apóia a noção de: 1) alianças estratégicas, o que inclui a comunidade como parte integrante e a direcionar o desenvolvimento cultural, político e social, e 2) que no processo de desenvolvimento, TIC pode ser também utilizada para gerar oportunidades econômicas.
Palavras-Chave:
Redes Transnacionais – Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação- TIC – Direitos Humanos Indígenas - Auto-Determinação Indígena – Organizações Não-Governamentais Internacionais - ONGIS
Palavras-Chave:
Redes Transnacionais – Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação- TIC – Direitos Humanos Indígenas - Auto-Determinação Indígena – Organizações Não-Governamentais Internacionais - ONGIS
The objective of the Information Communication Technologies for Social Development (ICTSD) initiative is to spur an international strategy for generating and supporting collaborative activities among academia, industry, government, and... more
The objective of the Information Communication Technologies for Social Development (ICTSD) initiative is to spur an international strategy for generating and supporting collaborative activities among academia, industry, government, and marginalized communities in the Ibero-American region to promote development in Indigenous communities through the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs). Additionally, an overarching goal is to challenge communities to develop new organizing tools that can contribute to a bottom-up approach to cultural and socio-economic development that is created by rather than for community members. This proactive and action-oriented approach is aimed at creating the synergy needed to empower indigenous communities to develop innovate ways to use technology applications that improve economic development and the quality of life within their communities.