Okay, so upon request, I'm putting some thoughts in here that are a bit more... intense I guess you could say or a bit more... under the surface of average thoughts I'm having here...Last night Bibiana and I talked about me possibly coming back at some point and working on a project with her, she stressed not for her, but with her... if we can find the resources to do something like that and she and I talked about how me working in indigenous communities here is problematic (I started this convo), mind you it is for Euro-descended peoples (the majority of Argentines) as well.. but as I sat in my favorite cafe today, this is a bit of what I wrote (*Note - my thought process just sort of flows, so I'm starting at the beginning which seems a bit unrelated to how I ended but so be it):

...I am really excited by the fact that Bibiana wants me to come back and come work with her... to continue her work in some capacity, here or elsewhere. Last night we also talked about the history of the Mapuche people who live in Patagonia now but who were originally the indigenous peoples from across the Andes in Chile. They were forced east by the Spanish colonizers and in the process, wiped out the indigenous peoples of the Patagonia and replaced them. Today, the indigenous people of Patagonia hardly exist, if at all. However, the Mapuche people are incredibly politically active and are quite the political force today, apparently.

Bibiana told me about a lot of people who are at various places on the "aid" or "assistance" scale (here). Some of these people think they're going to "save" the indigenous people, and even use those kinds of words: we are going to save the poor indigenous poeple; THEY need OUR help as (lawyers in this example) to learn how to fight for their (legal) rights, etc.

There are also groups who may not enter with that approach but who, if they are offered a crate to sit on, don't want to sit down on a dirty old crate or who don't want to share a mate with indigenous people - whether Mapuche or Mocovi...

I hope I can make some connections for Bibiana in Peru... or learn from ideas/examples there and share what I have learned here... ...in Argentina much of the language, history and culture (of the indigenous peoples) has already been lost, or it doesn't bother most that it is continously being lost.

I don't understand how an entire country can know about what's going on in other parts of the world and not about what's going on in their back yard. Here, I don't just mean Argentina, I mean everywhere (in general, and) where indigenous language, culture, and identity is being lost - and for ignorance and apathy on behalf of the general population (among other things) which comes down to political and social propaganda (usually going back centuries at least) and so much more - it's part of the oppressive system, the institutional violence that is often invisible until (and sometimes even after) one begins to look for it.

How can this be overcome? In a place, culture, society that is not your own over all else - meaning your understanding and grasp of it and how it is constructed is, and must be in many ways, weaker than your understanding and grasp of your own culture, society, etc.

On the other hand, the fact that it is not your own lends towards a better ability to step back from it (potentially, anyway) - however, in this framework, you are always the invader - never entering with the same cultural and societal values as those who you are entertaining with theories etc...

However, here, I am an invader in a way similar to the way local Euro-descended people are invaders, perhaps not belonging to this culture myself can act as a foot in the doorway (a hinge theme one might say)... a way in. Thinking in this way makes me very self-concious, however, and I feel like quite the invader even considering "ways in." But how do I know if I should genuinely feel this or if it's my own fear and guilt at the thought of being an invader (or being seen as an invader - which I invariably am basically everywhere in the world, whether I like it or not). In some ways, my education thus far as led me to feel bad about the way that I without a doubt, must enter a situation like this 0 but I can find some solvency in that it (being an invader) can be minimized (or the damage potentially done by being an invader anyway) by being who I am and recognizing who I am and opening up the dialogue myself and... changing the way the interaction is destined to go or to end.

This (potentially anyway) brings the power dichotomy between myself and whoever I am bound to work with to the fore - creating a very uncomfortable space for me and possible for the other person(s), but also a space that has the possibility for comfort and equality after that conversation happens (or during that conversation). In any case, it seems preferable to have that conversation (and really it is vital that the conversation happens) and to attempt to break down that dichotomy and proactively let go of my power to bring other to my level/place of thinking so that there is as little power dichotomy as possible (I'm not sure I believe that the entire power dichotomy can EVER be resolved, but I'd like to hold out hope)...

The only question that remains is whether or not people will not only open their ears to me, but open their hearts as well. And this is not an easy feat by any means. It is a natural process, like love, and trust must be earned in these relationships as in love, a heart cannot be forced to open... any attempt to do this will result in the gap of the power dichotomy being widened, among other things (mistrust, etc.)

Just as I cannot be careful enough about the way I behave in said interactions, the more careful I am means I am being all the more guarded myself, unopen, and am creating a power dichotomy (even if it is unintentionally)...*

These are the kinds of things I write about when I sit down with paper and a pen with no distractions and a cup of coffee. Some might be regretful for having these concerns, feel they overcomplicate the working process, etc. but I am grateful that they are imbedded in the way that I look at potential projects, work, etc. and they will always be. I am incredibly grateful that I have grown up the way I have, that I see the world the way I do. This view of the world and of the way I see it functioning will undoubtedly cause me problems in the future, but I can only hope for some sucesses in life, just like anyone else. If you made it this far, thanks for reading and I'm happy to receive feedback. Hope you all have a wonderful evening, and a wonderful weekend. Besos