Seeking Buen Vivir: Re-imagining Livelihoods in the Shifting Political Economic Landscape of Cangahua, Ecuador (original) (raw)

In 2008 the constitution of Ecuador was rewritten by its new president-Rafael Correa-to make buen vivir, or good living, the framework from which the government operated. The new constitution resulted in a national plan for good living/living well, El Plan Nacional de Buen Vivir, based on the Andean indigenous cosmovision of sumak kawsay, or living well. This plan is an ambitious attempt to improve quality of life in the nation by v Of course, this dissertation would not have been possible without the people of Cangahua and Cayambe, Ecuador. I cannot express how much I appreciate the people of Cangahua, who welcomed me into their community and allowed me to take a peek into their lives. I am especially grateful to my informants, who trusted me to present their thoughts and aspirations to a broader audience. I am forever indebted to the family of Alejandro Toapanta, who gave me food, lodging, entertainment, support, and accepted me as a member of their family and community. Words cannot express how thankful I am to have met this family and how proud I am to be an honorary member of their household. I am particularly thankful for Jorge Toapanta, my fieldwork assistant who served as a male companion and cultural interpreter during trips throughout the Cangahua countryside. As a younger woman of color from the United States, he provided me with security, support, and validity I required while traversing the most culturally traditional areas of Cangahua. Jorge endured several ordeals for helping me including a dog bite, being accused of espionage on behalf of the Americans, and ripping a new pair of jeans beyond repair as we traveled around the parish. Similarly, I am thankful for the help and support of Blanca Acero, who helped me navigate the "down mountain" communities of Cangahua. Further, I am grateful to the families of the barrio central who embraced me as their "veci" (vecina) and helped make my time in the parish a home away from home. Finally, without the support of the two presidents of the Junta Parroquial of Cangahua during my various fieldwork visits-Manuel Maria Ulcuango Farinango and José Bayardo Lanchimba Farinango-this project would not have been possible. I also would like to acknowledge Dr. Schuberth Moreira, the director of the Cangahua Subcentro, for his insights into healthcare and health practices in Cangahua. I would also like to thank my stateside family, friends, and colleagues who provided levity, support, and encouragement throughout graduate school. My wife, Laurie, showed me the true meaning of love as she travelled with me through the ups and downs of working vi towards a Ph.D. I am deeply indebted to her for the contributions and sacrifices she made to ensure that I made it to the finish line. I could not have done this without her. I would like to acknowledge our kids-our daughter Maelle, who was born shortly after my last fieldwork trip, and our niece, Miracle, who came to live with us while I was in the middle of dissertation writing. I hope that they will follow our example and become determined, empowered women who live out their dreams. Also, I must express gratitude for my cohort in the doctoral program. I could not have asked for a better group of friends and colleagues, especially during the first year core classes. There are too many others to name individually but I am equally grateful for having them in my life over the years. Finally, this dissertation is for my parents-June and Alan-who loved, supported, and encouraged me from day one and for my sister, Maria, who suffered a debilitating stroke after being diagnosed with aplastic anemia just before I left for my last fieldwork visit to Cangahua. A series of health crises in my immediate family during the final stages of my dissertation put my research, and life in general, into chaos but also gave me a new sense of determination and purpose. I wholly believe that I became a better person and a better medical anthropologist as I helped my family navigate the healthcare system at some of the lowest points in our lives. Despite living in the richer country with a "better" healthcare system, the parallels between the classism, racism, and lack of access faced by my parents and sister and those faced by my informants in Cangahua were startlingly similar. This realization allowed me to put my research experiences and critical analyses into a perspective that would not have been apparent to me otherwise. Health and access to quality healthcare is a human right regardless of citizenship or residence. May the United States and Ecuador rapidly move towards ensuring the rights to health and healthcare for all! vii