Indigenous peoples and environmental degradation

an indigenous perspective

Alberto Esquit-Choy

pp. 427-434

in: Richard J. Chacon, Rúben G. Mendoza (eds), The ethics of anthropology and Amerindian research, Berlin, Springer, 2012

Abstract

This work investigates the relationship between Amerindian-induced environmental degradation and the longstanding legacy of colonialism. Instances of environmental mismanagement should not be seen as taking place in a vacuum but rather, these events should be viewed in their historical and socio-economic contexts. Articulation with capitalism not only resulted in the subordination and exploitation of indigenous peoples but it also eroded many adaptive cultural traditions. As such, the overharvesting of natural resources by native peoples is linked to the effects of global capitalism.