Resumen

AGUILAR ROS, Alejandra. Epistemic Extractivism: Translocated Neo-Shamanism and Wixarika/Huichol Rituality. Rev. pueblos front. digit. [online]. 2021, vol.16, e501.  Epub 06-Mar-2023. ISSN 1870-4115.  https://doi.org/10.22201/cimsur.18704115e.2021.v16.501.

This paper analyzes a group of spiritual seekers from the United States who are apprentices of the tradition of Huichol shamanism as a result of following-up initiations performed by several shamans or mara’akate. At present, these neo-shamans position themselves as providers of the continuation to native Huichol traditions. For this reason, they have been accused of conducting epistemic extractivism. Within an extractivist neoliberal geopolitical context, this category is meaningful for the native spokespersons using it. Nonetheless, the neo-shamanic literature hardly considers its implications. This paper aims to locate the Wixaritari’s historical contexts and processes in order to demonstrate how the accusation of extractivism makes it possible to envision a different historical moment, polarizing identity in an essentialized way. This favours the Wixaritari in their struggle within the current geopolitical context of dispossession.

Palabras llave : Neo-shamanism; exploitation of forms of knowledge; spiritual seekers.

        · resumen en Español     · texto en Español     · Español ( pdf )