| Portion of title |
indigenous knowledge and conservation in Mexico's tropical rainforest |
| Contents |
Introduction -- Part I. The True People -- Sanctuary -- Lacandones Don?t Kill Dogs -- Part II. "Where Did We Come From?" -- The Ancient Ones -- A Memory of Lakes -- The Wooden People -- The Story of the Stolen Skulls -- Part III. Creating a Culture from a Forest -- How to Eat a Rainforest -- Farming with the Ants -- Teaching a Canoe to Swim -- Fibers, Vines, and Fire in the Night -- Part IV. Mysterious Spirits -- Flying Monkeys -- The Jwan T'ut' K'in -- The Lord of the Monkeys -- The Snake in the Lake -- Part V. The Will of the Gods -- Creating the World -- Paying the Gods -- A Special Place in Hell -- Part VI. Conservation: The State of the Forest -- What Happened to the Selva Lacandona? -- Saving a Rainforest -- Part VII. Resilience: The Forest and the Future -- A Question of How We Will Live |
| Abstract |
"This book tells the story of how LacandoÌ1n Maya families have adapted to the contemporary world while applying their ancestral knowledge to create an ecologically sustainable future in Mexico's largest remaining tropical rainforest"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Abstract |
"From the ancient traditions of the LacandoÌ1n Maya comes an Indigenous model for a sustainable futureHaving lived for centuries isolated within Mexico's largest remaining tropical rainforest, the Indigenous LacandoÌ1n Maya now live at the nexus of two worlds-ancient and modern. While previous research has focused on documenting LacandoÌ1n oral traditions and religious practices in order to preserve them, this book tells the story of how LacandoÌ1n families have adapted to the contemporary world while applying their ancestral knowledge to create an ecologically sustainable future.Drawing on his 49 years of studying and learning from the LacandoÌ1n Maya, James Nations discusses how in the midst of external pressures such as technological changes, missionary influences, and logging ventures, LacandoÌ1n communities are building an economic system of agroforestry and ecotourism that produces income for their families while protecting biodiversity and cultural resources. Nations describes methods they use to plant and harvest without harming the forest, illustrating that despite drastic changes in lifestyle, respect for the environment continues to connect LacandoÌ1n families across generations. By helping with these tasks and inheriting the fables and myths that reinforce this worldview, LacandoÌ1n children continue to learn about the plants, animals, and spiritual deities that coexist in their land.Indigenous peoples such as the LacandoÌ1n Maya control one-third of the intact forest landscapes left on Earth, and Indigenous knowledge and practices are increasingly recognized as key elements in the survival of the planet's biological diversity. The story of the LacandoÌ1n Maya serves as a model for Indigenous-controlled environmental conservation, and it will inform anyone interested in supporting sustainable Indigenous futures. A volume in the series Maya Studies, edited by Diane Z. Chase and Arlen F. Chase"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Access restriction | Available only to authorized users. |
| Technical details | Mode of access: World Wide Web |
| Genre/form | Electronic books. |
| LCCN | 2023012292 |
| ISBN | 9780813069784 (hardback) |
| ISBN | 9780813080246 (paperback) |
| ISBN | (pdf) |
| ISBN | (ebook) |
