Cultura y Naturaleza: Estrategias de Identidad Shuar a través de Mitos y Leyendas en los cantones Sucúa y Logroño

Abstract

The Shuar community is one of the oldest peoples in the Amazon region, with a history marked by resilience and the preservation of a cultural identity deeply linked to nature. However, it currently faces the progressive loss of its values, ways of thinking, and unique worldviews as a result of phenomena such as acculturation and globalization. These processes have caused many Shuar groups to distance themselves from their ancestral traditions and adopt practices alien to their culture. Faced with this problem, this study proposes the creation of an anthology based on a selection of myths and legends from the Shuar community in the cantons of Sucúa and Logroño, as a strategy for preserving and strengthening their cultural identity. The research was conducted using a qualitative approach with ethnographic methodology, using in-depth interviews as the primary data collection technique, which were audio-recorded. Criteria such as the human-nature relationship, cultural relevance, and symbolism were considered when selecting the stories. In the process of transcription and adaptation into Spanish, efforts were made to maintain the original narrative essence, respecting the linguistic peculiarities and symbolic elements of the Shuar oral tradition. Ultimately, this study successfully created an anthology that compiles myths and legends representative of this ancestral community, constituting a valuable tool for revitalizing their collective memory and affirming their cultural identity.