El diálogo intercultural como mecanismo para la gestión del patrimonio biocultural. El caso del Yolixpa del pueblo nahua de Cuetzalan del Progreso, Puebla

Abstract

The conservation of the heritage of native peoples depends on establishing links between different communities and promoting coexistence, well-being and peace among peoples; In this sense, intercultural dialogue is a communication mechanism that seeks to educate individuals who foster more open, plural and dynamic societies where it is possible to build better life opportunities. In the municipality of Cuetzalan del Progreso, the Masehual have established, within their daily lives, forms of communication based mainly on family and community values, which have been established within their society and which, in some cases, are reproduced in the interaction with the tourists who have come to the municipality for more than four decades. The tourist interest towards Cuetzalan is due to the fact that it has a wide repertoire of biocultural heritage, preserved by the inhabitants for generations; among which Yolixpa stands out, a medicinal and traditional drink that is currently in a process of transformation in terms of inputs, preparation and meanings, mainly; in which producers, tourism service providers, authorities, tourists and the local population have contributed. The changes indicated are not homogeneous for all the actors and this is due to the fact that each actor involved has different worldviews and, therefore, different objectives and particular interests, depending on the individual or collective role they represent; In this context of changes and permanence linked to the tourist practice, intercultural dialogue between social actors becomes relevant, for the safeguarding of heritage, including the Yolixpa and its true medicinal and traditional value. Based on the above, the objective of this study was to assess the relevance and scope of intercultural dialogue, as a management mechanism for Yolixpa, as a biocultural heritage of the Nahua people of Cuetzalan del Progreso, Puebla, for which a qualitative methodological strategy was used. where in-depth interviews, participant observation, intercultural dialogue, focus group, social clotheslines and group dynamics were applied. It was observed that although the local actors linked to the management of Yolixpa are different, they share common interests around the drink, especially in its permanence and in the recovery of its traditional value; they also recognize that the lack of dialogue has caused disagreements and little participation; The foregoing has been reflected in the management of the Yolixpa festival, in the commercialization, dissemination and promotion of the drink from a mercantilist approach.