Análisis desde la agroecología de prácticas tradicionales en el resguardo indígena de Yaquivá (Inzá, Cauca, Colombia)

Colombian ethnographic literature reveals a significant gap in systematized documentation of traditional practices. This study examines agroecological practices within the Yaquivá community, focusing on those at risk of disappearing, as a contribution to the socio-agricultural revalorization of local knowledge. Using Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology, the research documented both the underlying causes of practice decline and potential recovery strategies. The study differentiates between practices experiencing gradual loss and those demonstrating resilience. The Community Educational Project (CEP) of the Jiisa Fxiw Agroecological School emerges as a crucial platform for strengthening and recontextualizing traditional practices, particularly the minga (collective work system), hand-to-hand labor exchange, and the Tul (ancestral household garden), elements that integrate technological, social, and spiritual dimensions. Findings demonstrate that the erosion of biological diversity parallels the loss of cultural diversity. Food production related to cultural heritage, intrinsically linked to the community’s worldview, has diminished substantially, creating dependency on external inputs with severe economic, environmental, and social implications. Results indicate that the Yaquivá educational community recognizes threats to its cultural legacy and underscore the need to counter the expansion of conventional agriculture.