Aymara Indian Perspectives on Development in the Andes

Aymara Indians, indigenous people of the Andes near the Atacama Desert, face significant challenges in maintaining their traditional and sustainable systems of irrigation, agriculture, and pastoralism amid rapid economic growth. Research reveals a complex conflict between development pressures—such as highway construction (Chile Highway 11), water diversion for hydroelectricity and irrigation, and national park policies—and the Aymara's deep cultural and ecological dependence on land and water. The study employs collaborative ethnographic interviews across 16 Andean villages, integrating botany, archaeology, and history to uncover the ethnoecological dimensions of this struggle. It highlights the Aymara worldview and their fight to preserve their way of life, offering a multidisciplinary perspective that bridges indigenous knowledge with scientific disciplines.

EISENBERG, A. (2013). Aymara Indian Perspectives on Development in the Andes. https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.30347785