Reassessing the LIS approach to traditional knowledge: learning from Xochimilco, Mexico city

Traditional knowledge in Xochimilco, Mexico City, is not static but dynamically reinvented through two contrasting lenses: heritage tourism and agro-ecology. The study reveals that traditional practices, such as those tied to chinampas (floating gardens), are both a source of identity and sustainable agricultural techniques, challenging the perception of traditional knowledge as merely a threatened relic. Fieldwork and interviews highlighted a shared commitment to preserving cultural heritage amid modernization pressures. This research underscores the potential for traditional knowledge to foster resilience, biodiversity, and social justice while offering a nuanced framework for understanding its adaptive nature.

Cox, A. M., Tiago Martins, J., & Rivera González, G. (2020). Reassessing the LIS approach to traditional knowledge: learning from Xochimilco, Mexico city. Journal of Documentation, 76(5), 981–997. https://doi.org/10.1108/jd-10-2019-0195