Indigenous ancestral wisdom as an alternative paradigm for global society An analysis of the film El Abrazo de la Serpiente by Ciro Guerra

Abstract

This article aims to explain the values of indigenous ancestral knowledge in Latin America, based on the concept of interculturalidad and analyze how this concept is presented in the chosen film. Applying the framework of Latin American social and historical context with mass communication theory Índices narrativos to analyze the meaning of the symbols that appear in the film El Abrazo de la Serpiente. The findings reveal that (1) the values of indigenous ancestral knowledge emphasize the importance of the coexistence of every being in the universe for a balanced and sustainable way as a philosophy of life; (2) the preservation of indigenous ancestral knowledge is a way to emancipate Latin America from coloniality and promote the autonomy of this region, which can lead to changes in a society where everyone participates equally; (3) the image of indigenous people is presented as a minority group affected from modernization of the country. These projects make them find a way to inherit their knowledge, which is the identity of their community. Otherwise, their identity will disappear due to the developing neoliberal world.