Cultural Identity Distance Computation through Artificial Intelligence as an Analysis Tool of the Amazon Indigenous People. A Case Study in the Waorani Community

Aldrin Marcel Espín-León,Antonio Jimeno-Morenilla,Jorge Azorín-López,María Luisa Pertegal-Felices

doi:10.3390/su12229513

Aldrin Marcel Espín-León, Antonio Jimeno-Morenilla + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229513

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Abstract

Cultural identity is a complex concept that includes subjective factors such as ideology, family knowledge, customs, language, and acquired skills, among others. Measuring culture involves a significant level of difficulty, since its study and scope differ from the point of view, the time and the place where the studies are carried out. In the Amazon, indigenous communities are in an accelerated process of acculturation that results in a loss of cultural identity that is not easy to quantify. This paper presents a method to measure the cultural distance between individuals or between groups of people using Artificial Intelligence techniques. The distance between individuals is calculated as the distance of the minimum path in the self-organizing map using Dijkstra’s algorithm. The experiments have been carried out to measure the cultural identity of indigenous people in the Waorani Amazon community and compares them with people living in cities who have a modern identity. The results showed that the communities are still distant in terms of identity from the westernised cities around them, although there are already factors where the distances are minimal concerning these cities. In any case, the method makes it possible to quantify the state of acculturation. This quantification can help the authorities to monitor these communities and take political decisions that will enable them to preserve their cultural identity.

Highlights

The migratory movements of indigenous people in Latin America are slightly lower than the movements of non-indigenous individuals; beyond quantitative values, theoretical social models attempt to differentiate their cause and provide explanations as to their consequences and implications on peoples
According to Valdés [1], indigenous migration shows no explanatory difference from non-indigenous migration, but he attributes this to the fact that existing instruments are not capable of detecting differences, especially since these populations integrate cultural and ethnic variables rooted in historical memory
The results showed that the Indians placed little value on elements such as dress, language, and customs, yet they continued to be proud of belonging to their people

Summary

Introduction

The migratory movements of indigenous people in Latin America are slightly lower than the movements of non-indigenous individuals; beyond quantitative values, theoretical social models attempt to differentiate their cause and provide explanations as to their consequences and implications on peoples. In the case of certain indigenous communities in the Amazon, which were not subject to the conquest by the Europe west during the 16th century, their colonization began in the mid-20th century These peoples are currently undergoing a strong process of migration and immigration as a result of such colonization and globalization, the main consequence of which is an affectation of their own identity [3]. In this sense, there is concern that their communities will disappear or lose their identity. In Amazonian societies, the link between individuals and the ecosystem is indispensable, an ecosystem that is currently in serious danger [4]

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