Tetera (Stromanthe jacquinii) and Chocolatillo (Ischnosiphon arouma), two plant species that weave cultural identity in indigenous communities of Cauca, Colombia

Abstract

Traditional knowledge has contributed to sustain over time the identity of the communities presents in the territory, allowing them to transmit, transform and reproduce the various forms of representation and expression of the cultural diversity of ethnic groups, where ecosystems play a role. important because it constitutes the spaces of use from which the plant species used in the elaboration of various crafts that are part of the affirmation of a process of participation of women as co-creators and managers of identity dynamics that prevail through generational transmission are extracted, that underlie the relationships established with the territory to finally reveal the differences that sustain the wealth of the communities of Nueva Bellavista and El Partidero. In each of these communities, tours were carried out to identify plant species such as, Tetera (Stromanthe jacquinii) y Chocolatillo (Ischnosiphon arouma), that are used by indigenous women for the development of different models of handicrafts. In the same way, semi-structured interviews were carried out that constituted the main element for the collection of information, field notes and photographic record were taken and the observation for the required analysis. In this sense, the compilations of information under these mechanisms mentioned made possible the compression of forms of relationship. and marked patterns of cultural identity, based on the making of handicrafts made based on the plant species that have determined the different spaces of use of the territory, as well as the conservation processes of non-timber products. Therefore, the document is structured within the framework of the results obtained, first, with the identification of the species used in the process of making handicrafts, the species of teapot and chocolate as the main material for said preparation, secondly, the process of making the various products or handicrafts that are made by indigenous women and finally, the making of handicrafts as a process of identity consolidation.