(Re)Creating Latinx Indigenous Identity: Transnational Saraguro Youth Living in Rural Wisconsin

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Eleven
  In Roundtable Session: Experiences of Latinx Families and Latinx Indigenous Youth in Schools and Community-Based Organizations (Table 20)

Abstract

This research project examined how Saraguro youth living in rural Wisconsin enact their indigeneity in the diaspora. Using the framework of community cultural wealth and via semi-structured interviews with six Saraguro youth, this study provides examples of the familial, linguistic, and navigational capitals that these youths draw from to construct their ever-evolving identities. Findings revealed that youth are living their identities through strong familial ties and continued use of their Kichwa, Spanish, and English languages. Simultaneously, Saraguro youth expressed challenges enacting their identity when choosing between their traditional roots and the expectations of their rural predominantly white surroundings.

Author

• Jocelyn Chavez-Diaz, California State University - Monterey Bay
  Presenting Author