Young indigenous people's perspectives on culture and development : building autonomy in indigenous communitites in Bolivia.

Abstract

In their fight for self-determination, indigenous people often project themselves as a cohesive collective; yet not everyone has the same development aspirations. In Bolivia, indigenous communities are discussing what relevance ‘traditional’ and ‘modern’ ideologies ought to have in the community’s autonomous governance institutions. This thesis examines the role of young people in shaping their community’s governance institutions. Young people from the municipalities of Mojocoya and Tarabuco participated in interviews, youth meetings and a writing contest. I argue that young people are looking for institutions and a cultural identity that incorporates both indigenous and ‘modern’ values. For these young people the way to achieve bienestar (material well-being) is through the adoption of modern knowledge; yet equally important is that they achieve vivir bien (living well) and pass their culture on to future generations. This thesis advances the position that young people are valuable contributors as members of their communities today.