Ethnobotanical
Knowledge Variation among the Totonac
María Ruth Martínez Rodríguez
University
of Georgia
The disappearance of traditional plant knowledge in indigenous societies is a topic that has recently gained scholarly and public attention. Studies in different regions of the world have emphasized that demographic variables such as age, gender, kinship relationships and distance to major towns play a role in the explanation of ethnobotanical knowledge variation. Features linked to acculturation, such as schooling, national language ability, and housing quality, are negatively correlated to ethnobotanical knowledge competency within traditional societies. Market integration, as measured by source of income, has been another factor studied in relation to ethnobotanical knowledge erosion.
One way to shed light into the
disappearance of ethnobiological knowledge is through the study of its
distribution within a traditional society. This is a proposal for my
doctoral dissertation, where I aim to study the current distribution of
folk knowledge of plants among the Totonac, and how the younger
generations seem to be less knowledgeable of it. Specifically, I want to
address the following question: In
what ways do age, schooling, income source, native language competence,
distance to a major town, gender and household members’ age affect
ethnobotanical knowledge distribution in the young adult (18-22 years old)
cohort in a traditional society?
In the past 20 years, the Totonac in the Sierra Norte de Puebla piedmont have experienced many socio-economical changes, including the introduction of electricity, construction of schools, improvement of roads, and changes in income source. It is likely that these changes have influenced traditional knowledge about plants, and this is especially relevant for the youngest adult generation. They have had contact with schooling, media, and mainstream Mexican culture in their formative years, while their elders did not. It is expected that ethnobotanical knowledge should vary because of this process. At the same time, this young adult cohort is still interacting with knowledgeable elders within their family, which probably affects their ethnobotanical knowledge. The documentation of Totonac ethnobotanical knowledge, the factors associated with its variation, along with the intergenerational relations and current socioeconomic changes in this population, make them ideal for the exploration of variation of ethnobotanical knowledge.
The initial survey for this research, to be carried out this summer, will be a description of both the local flora and the ethnobotanical knowledge held by Totonac elders. This will be a crucial point for further research. In order to determine the pattern of knowledge loss or retention, it is imperative to document the current ethnobotanical knowledge, so that it can be used as baseline data.
This research will advance our understanding of ethnobotanical knowledge loss and retention over time among the Totonac. In general, the mechanisms involved in loss of knowledge are not fully understood, which hinders the development of strategies to preserve traditional knowledge. Site specific studies, like the one outlined in this proposal, are necessary to understand the process of loss of knowledge. Understanding the current ethnobotanical situation of the Totonac is crucial for future studies and initiatives in the conservation of their knowledge.
About Maria Ruth Martinez Rodriguez
I am a doctoral student at the University of Georgia, my background is Agronomy. My research interest is ethnobotanical knowledge and its variation in the Totonac. I conducted preliminary research among the Totonac of Coxquihui, and expect to carry out my doctoral dissertation among them, with the idea of contributing to the documentation of their knowledge and the use of this information for the conservation of their traditional knowledge. This paper is my research proposal.
» Subconferencia: The Past and Future of Totonaco Studies