Speaker: Gabriel G. Roman - Université libre de Bruxelles / EHESS
Date: 26 November 2023 - 10.00 – 14.00
Venue: Universidad Comunal del Cempoaltepetl (UNICEM) – Santa María Tlahuitoltepec Mixe / Oaxaca, Mexico.

"Ka't yë' tëmt tyëkeyy - The seeds are not lost": Preservation and loss of Mixe corn in Tamazulapam del Espírito Santo

Abstract

Tamazulapam del Espíritu Santo is a Mixe community located in the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca. Its inhabitants have traditionally produced maize for self-consumption in milpa intercropping systems (usually with beans, potatoes, chilacayote, and fruit trees). Although several generations of farmers have maintained and improved their seeds, the recent effects of migration and ecological degradation have affected this process and threatened local biodiversity. With the intention of presenting an overview of the relationships between maize producers and their seeds, this presentation will discuss three topics. Firstly, the local classification of seeds, their selection process, and their social importance will be presented and discussed. Secondly, I will introduce seed-storage practices and how farmers deal with their potential and actual loss. Finally, the motivations and perceptions of farmers about their future and the future of their seeds will be described. Drawing on ethnographic data, this presentation aims to shed light on the contemporary challenges of biodiverse agriculture and the importance of native maize in Mixe life.