Brandon Farmer, Jonathan Frioux and Dr. Mark Magleby, Art History

Cultural diversity and its preservation are greatly influenced by today’s ever-changing world. With advances in technology, content and information from the more rapidly changing modern world can reach nearly any culture on the globe. Each and every community experiences changes over time, but the idea of globalization and modernization is now reaching many more communities than ever before, and consequently is causing more rapid change than ever before. Some of these more specific external influences are pop culture, tourism, and mass media. Our main purpose was to explore the importance of culture and its preservation. We were also interested in investigating the positive or negative impact on culture from outside influences.

Ecuador is a country where nearly hundreds of languages and ethnicities share a country smaller than the size of Texas. The capitol Quito is well advanced in technology and is influenced greatly by all parts of the globe. This project explored the cultural diversity of two distinct communities, the Otavalo culture of the north, and Guayacana, one of the Chachi tribes of Quinindé to the southwest. Both of these cultures demonstrate how external influences can affect them but with contrasting outcomes. We wanted to explore the subject more fully if possible by investigating the definition of a negative influence on a culture’s preservation.

While in Ecuador, documenting examples of these circumstances was accomplished in both cultures using professional digital video and audio equipment. Interviews were conducted in each community with individuals of varying demographics to gain an accurate insiders perspective regarding change in culture and the importance of its preservation. Initially, many had opposing opinions regarding temporal aspects to culture such as dress, language, food, dance, music, etc. There was so much to cover with this research topic. Various viewpoints and opinions will be more fully explored in a documentary that will be made from the research. We found that all those interviewed could not completely describe why culture is important, but they all agreed it was. It seemed to be an inherent understanding amongst all people and ages in both cultures.

Otavalo is located to the north, in the sierra. It is an indigenous community that has been heavily impacted over the last 50 years by external pressures. One of the largest of these is tourism. However, Otavalo’s culture has been maintained, if not enhanced in some areas. There are controversial changes occurring slowly with time in terms of dress, language, and grooming. These were all explored and brought up in conservations with different generations and demographics. Opinions were many and not all agreed on any of these areas being any one way, however an overall understanding of the importance of culture was deeply meaningful to all.

Guayacana is the largest of the ten villages that make up the Chachi people. These indigenous occupy an isolated area 10 miles northeast of Quininde, a small city near the western coast of Ecuador. The government has reserved this space for them. Currently there are roughly 5,000 living Chachis today. We chose to research the Chachi people to explore their cultural diversity and how it contrasts with our findings and research in Otavalo. Previous time spent there by one researcher provided knowledge about their rich cultural preservation. However, at first glance it would appear to be bland, simple, and nearly non-existent. This is primarily due to its isolation. Only a 2-3 hour canoe ride provides access to these villages. Once inside however, a lively and historic society opened to us, though not notably colorful or elaborate at first glance. Nearly all aspects to this culture have been preserved for hundreds of years. These include the Chapala language, food preparation, basket weaving, music, dance, agriculture, and washing clothes by hand. The only major change in culture is in dress.

There were limitless possibilities with such a vast topic relating to two beautiful and richly diverse cultures. As researchers we gained priceless understanding about the importance of self and tradition. There were many obstacles to face once stepping off the plane with so many ideas of what to explore within this research topic. We worked as a team through sickness, stress, and attention to detail to learn from and connect with the people of both communities. Although those interviewed did not agree on all specifics about culture and what should be preserved, they all agreed that change is going to happen regardless. This change however should be for the betterment of one’s self and people, to uplift and edify.