The chagra an experience of enculturation towards food sovereignty

Abstract

The food crisis affects not only Colombia, but the entire world. In that sense, it is a social responsibility to seek strategies
to mitigate it. The food crisis manifests itself in staggering figures in Colombia: almost half of the population lives in poverty,
lacks access to food for a sufficient economic level and leaves at least 41% of Colombian households in risk of starvation.
To our government’s shame, the country’s hunger rate is higher than in sub-Saharan Africa, 45% of pregnant women in
Colombia suffer from anemia and 58.2% of rural households say that their children go to bed without eating. In ethnic
communities, more than 80% of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition. The objective of this research is to
conduct a reflective analysis on the use of the chagra as a pedagogical strategy to promote an experience of endoculturation
leading to food sovereignty in educational contexts, focusing on the traditions of the indigenous reservation of Ipiales, Los
Pastos locality. Taking into account that modern trends are generating other lifestyles, the question arises as to whether
the cultural knowledge and traditions of indigenous peoples are being relegated. To achieve our purpose a qualitative
methodology was used that focused on the documentary review different sources associated with this topic, which were
triangulated for the generation of final reflections. As a result of the research process, it was found that the transmission
of ancestral knowledge that has been lost over the years is fundamental, and that cultural elements such as the chagra
generate significant impacts at the level of food sovereignty, health, economy and sustainable development.