Introduction: The Terms of Culture: Idioms of Reflexivity Among Indigenous Peoples in Latin America

Introduction:The Terms of Culture: Idioms Reflexivity Among Indigenous Peoples in Latin America Vincent Hirtzel and Anath Ariel de Vidas From the mid-1980s, indigenous groups gradually began using expression "our culture" general reference to practices, skills, or artefacts particular them. In so doing, they were mirroring parallel "your that served designate them from an outside perspective. These possessive expressions, first second person—initially used national languages (Spanish Portuguese)—emerged a closely interconnected institutional, national, international context. They passed thus into mainstream discourse, even, some cases, themselves, with help two successive "boosts." The these came 1980s, political legal domains: driven by activism, emergence expressions benefitted normative impact resulting work International Labor Organization (ILO) regard "indigenous tribal" peoples, particularly through enactment Convention 169 (1989).1 Whether Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia [End Page 513] (where case studies this special collection are taken from), phase also coincided constitutional recognition States their pluricultural makeup.2 This shift was further encouraged, background, not too insignificant support Catholic Church (historically major player relations America) following "culturalist turn" advanced missionary commitments Second Vatican Council.3 propagation "our/your dialogical regime entered second, more recent 21st century, correlating developing notion culture as heritage adoption highly influential 2003 UNESCO convention on "Intangible Cultural Heritage" (ICH).4 has been largely responsible for spreading idea "good" be viewed within framework transmissible property; but "wealth," aspect is consubstantial heritage, accentuated label "heritage humanity" ascribed cultural products based unique original character.5 programs clear, every American country having supported initiatives require necessary participation communities, well institutions. Thus, last half-century, growing number promotional mobilization local populations leaders, together NGOs State agencies, have significantly heightened profile culture. programmatic [notion of] culture, publicly exhibited "practiced," given rise—predominantly areas bilingual intercultural education protection, funded development aid—to processes commodification (ethnic tourism, artisanry, performances), becoming key component demands justifications certain differential rights, matters access land, projects, justice. By aligned Amerindian ethno-political movements, explicit become vehicle civil while continuing fuel struggles, especially conflicts surrounding megaprojects lands (exploitation natural resources, hydroelectric dams, etc.), battle between right difference, framed terms "general interest" (see Nahum-Claudel 2018, Ødegaard Rivera Andía 2019). 514] proliferation term "culture" included among provides outline historical context serves backdrop articles collection. If hyper-visibility now well-known phenomenon can analyzed result globalized process identity essentialization does line analysis exhaust phenomenon? Without contesting pervasiveness idiom, bound transnational technocracy, agencies NGOs, concerns, presented here show all speak idiom same way committed monolithically culture." To put it in...