The Political Uses of Maya Medicine: Civil Organizations in Chiapas and the Ventriloquism Effect

Abstract

This article focuses on the internal operations of civil society organizations working among the indigenous population of Chiapas. The growth of non-governmental organizations in this area over the last few decades has reinforced the fabric of civil society. Yet at the same time, certain groups make uncivil use of civil society structures, preventing the effective representation of indigenous populations. Comparing three organizations of indigenous doctors, I examine the complex relations that arise between indigenous members and nonindigenous 'advisers'. In particular, I look to the ways that external advisers define indigenous interests and the concept of Indianness in pursuit of their own political agendas.

"Buscando espiritualmente os Mayas"

“…"teachers," and so on for foreigners of all nationalities who visit them in order to attain an authentic Maya spiritual "fix" (see Ayora-Díaz, 1998, 2000Christenson, 2016;Deuss, 2013;González & Sitler, 2010;Molesky-Poz, 2008;Pitarch, 2007;Sitler & González, 2010). These spiritual commodities in turn-as is suggestive of the case of Hunbatz…”

“…12 See also Ayora-Díaz (1998, 2000, Christenson (2016), Deuss (2013), González andSitler (2010), Hawkins (2021), Molesky-Poz (2008), Pitarch (2007), Sitler and González (2010) on ways in which Maya persons who are specialists in Maya healing, ritual, or religion turn away from attending to the communities in which they have a sanctioned role in order to attend to foreign tourists seeking Maya spirituality. 13 On Maya identity in Yucatán and generally see Castañeda (2005), Castillo Cocom (2005, Hernández Reyna and Castillo Cocom (2021), Montejo (2005), Fischer (1999), Fischer and Mckenna-Brown (1996, Restall (2005), Restall and Gabbert (2017), Restall and Solari (2020), Warren (1998).…”