Understanding adaptation and transformation through indigenous practice: the case of the Guna of Panama
Resilience is emerging as a promising vehicle for improving management of social-ecological systems that can potentially lead to more sustainable arrangements between environmental and social spheres. Central to an understanding of how to support resilience is the need to understand social change an...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Resilience Alliance
2015-03-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Society |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol20/iss1/art45/ |
| _version_ | 1818732712111898624 |
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| author | Marina J. Apgar Will Allen Kevin Moore James Ataria |
| author_facet | Marina J. Apgar Will Allen Kevin Moore James Ataria |
| author_sort | Marina J. Apgar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Resilience is emerging as a promising vehicle for improving management of social-ecological systems that can potentially lead to more sustainable arrangements between environmental and social spheres. Central to an understanding of how to support resilience is the need to understand social change and its links with adaptation and transformation. Our aim is to contribute to insights about and understanding of underlying social dynamics at play in social-ecological systems. We argue that longstanding indigenous practices provide opportunities for investigating processes of adaptation and transformation. We use in-depth analysis of adaptation and transformation through engagement in participatory action research, focusing on the role of cultural and social practices among the Guna indigenous peoples in Panama. Our findings reveal that cultural practices facilitating leadership development, personhood development, and social networking are critical for enabling both adaptation and transformation. Further, we argue that Guna ritual practice builds additional skills, such as critical self-reflection and creative innovation, that are important for supporting the deeper changes required by transformation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T23:37:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1840d00cc7a349329a5d5755a07f70fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1708-3087 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T23:37:55Z |
| publishDate | 2015-03-01 |
| publisher | Resilience Alliance |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Society |
| spelling | doaj.art-1840d00cc7a349329a5d5755a07f70fe2022-12-21T21:28:31ZengResilience AllianceEcology and Society1708-30872015-03-012014510.5751/ES-07314-2001457314Understanding adaptation and transformation through indigenous practice: the case of the Guna of PanamaMarina J. Apgar0Will Allen1Kevin Moore2James Ataria3Policy, Economic and Social Sciences, WorldFish CenterLearning for SustainabilityFaculty of Environment, Society and Design, Lincoln UniversityTe Matapuna, Kaupapa Maori Unit, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln UniversityResilience is emerging as a promising vehicle for improving management of social-ecological systems that can potentially lead to more sustainable arrangements between environmental and social spheres. Central to an understanding of how to support resilience is the need to understand social change and its links with adaptation and transformation. Our aim is to contribute to insights about and understanding of underlying social dynamics at play in social-ecological systems. We argue that longstanding indigenous practices provide opportunities for investigating processes of adaptation and transformation. We use in-depth analysis of adaptation and transformation through engagement in participatory action research, focusing on the role of cultural and social practices among the Guna indigenous peoples in Panama. Our findings reveal that cultural practices facilitating leadership development, personhood development, and social networking are critical for enabling both adaptation and transformation. Further, we argue that Guna ritual practice builds additional skills, such as critical self-reflection and creative innovation, that are important for supporting the deeper changes required by transformation.http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol20/iss1/art45/adaptationcultural practiceGunareflectionresilienceritualparticipatory action researchtransformation |
| spellingShingle | Marina J. Apgar Will Allen Kevin Moore James Ataria Understanding adaptation and transformation through indigenous practice: the case of the Guna of Panama Ecology and Society adaptation cultural practice Guna reflection resilience ritual participatory action research transformation |
| title | Understanding adaptation and transformation through indigenous practice: the case of the Guna of Panama |
| title_full | Understanding adaptation and transformation through indigenous practice: the case of the Guna of Panama |
| title_fullStr | Understanding adaptation and transformation through indigenous practice: the case of the Guna of Panama |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding adaptation and transformation through indigenous practice: the case of the Guna of Panama |
| title_short | Understanding adaptation and transformation through indigenous practice: the case of the Guna of Panama |
| title_sort | understanding adaptation and transformation through indigenous practice the case of the guna of panama |
| topic | adaptation cultural practice Guna reflection resilience ritual participatory action research transformation |
| url | http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol20/iss1/art45/ |
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