Abstract

D’ALESSANDRO, Renzo  and  GONZALEZ, Alma Amalia. The Milpa Practices, Ch’ulel and Maize as Integrative Elements of Nature Cosmology among the Tzeltal from Tenejapa in the Highlands of Chiapas. Estud. cult. maya [online]. 2017, vol.50, pp.271-297. ISSN 0185-2574.  https://doi.org/10.19130/iifl.ecm.2017.50.768.

This article presents the results of ethnographic work done in Tzeltal communities in the municipality of Tenejapa in Los Altos of Chiapas, where we analyzed the relationship between human and nature based on the agricultural practices of the "milpa" system. It offers an ethnographic description in order to understand the construction of Tzeltal territories with a theoretical approach that seeks to address the relationship between culture and nature from the symbolic ecology proposed by Descola. We also draw upon several studies to analyze the perspectives of nature among the Maya in order to expose the relevance of their myths, rituals and agricultural practices merging culture and nature and as an expression of territory appropriation.

Keywords : milpa; maíz; ch’ulel; tzeltal; cosmology; indigenous ontology.

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