Cozinhas comunitárias como patrimônio do protesto social: experiências do levante indígena e popular no Equador, 2022

Abstract

This article narrates the resurgence of community kitchens in Ecuador during the 2022 national uprising when, once again, the Indigenous movement and citizens mobilized to demand the fulfillment of their requests, including that of a post-extractivist Ecuador. In this context, the community kitchens activated in the capital city Quito were a vital space for sustaining social protest and promoting encounter, creativity, and solidarity. Historically, culinary heritage has been instrumentalized by hegemonic groups to reinforce their power and domination over the rest of the population; however, as a volunteer in several kitchens during the days of the protest, I show how community kitchens are counter-hegemonic traditions and weave emancipatory meanings.