Studi e ricerche

Historias wichís de máquinas y accidentes (Misión Nueva Pompeya, Chaco)

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Abstract

This article analyzes a series of accounts of accidents that occurred among the Wichís of the Argentine Chaco in different historical periods since the end of the nienteenth century. It reflects on the local understanding of mechanical accidents that are considered as lewit’oi misfortunes and, in part, are due to bad luck, “yeta”, katawu. An absence of institutionalization of guilt, an attenuated management of evil, and of its causes, and a weak nourishment of the axiological system are thus revealed. As far as accidents on the road are concerned, it becomes clear that traveling by car, truck or motorcycle and getting away from the village —that is, going out and traveling far away— is perceived as something dangerous. This danger can be controlled to some extent.


Open access | Peer reviewed

Submitted: Jan. 30, 2025 | Accepted: March 17, 2025 | Published Sept. 30, 2025 | Language: es

Keywords Indigenous peoples • Wichí • Accidents • Machines • Routes

Copyright © 2025 Zelda Alice Franceschi. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/978-88-6969-940-5/017


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