H. Gonzalez, Victor and Ortiz, Patricio and Frausin Bustamante, Gina (2012) Forced migration and indigenous knowledge of displaced Emberá and Uitoto populations in Colombia:an ethnobotanical perspective. Mundo Amazónico, 3. pp. 165-177. ISSN 2145-5074
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Abstract
Relatively little attention has been given to documenting changes in the ethnobotanical knowl-edge of displaced indigenous groups in Colombia. Such information is highly valuable becauseit contributes to our understanding of the changes that occur during this process of displace-ment, cultural transformation and loss, and because it eventually could shed some light indesigning social, economic, and educational policies that would facilitate their incorporationinto mainstream culture, through ways that validate their indigenous identity, knowledge, andtraditions. Based on our on-going research, herein we summarize ethnobotanical informationof two indigenous groups currently residing in the city of Florencia (capital of the Departmentof Caquetá) in the Northwestern Amazon basin: the Emberá, originally from northwesternColombia, and Uitoto, originally from the Colombian Amazon. By focusing in the indigenousethnobotanical knowledge of these two displaced groups, we intend to show the revitalizationof ethnobotanical knowledge, resilience, and multiple resources in form of ancestral knowl-edge that are brought and transmitted by these groups as they struggle for survival, in manytimes hostile urban environments. We hope to draw more attention to and encourage similarstudies on other displaced indigenous populations in Colombia as well as in other areas of LatinAmerica