Paper short abstract:

The State of Sonora in North West Mexico is home to seven indigenous groups (Cucapá, Seri, Yaqui, Mayo, Pápago, Pima, and Guarijío). An interdisciplinary, intercultural group generated a socio-environmental diagnosis of conditions within the various territories

Paper long abstract:

The environmental crisis is linked to industrial capitalism and its epistemological hegemony. In an effort to break through this hegemony it has been proposed that a dialogue be opened between disciplines, other forms of knowledge, and ways of interpreting the environment and climate. The State of Sonora in North West Mexico is home to seven indigenous groups (Cucapá, Seri, Yaqui, Mayo, Pápago, Pima, and Guarijío). An interdisciplinary, intercultural group was organized to generate a socio-environmental diagnosis of conditions within their territories. The research used various instruments and methods: participant observation, structured interviews, a survey of biodiversity, digitalization of agricultural communities and maps developed with the help of community leaders. The results demonstrated a consistent and generalized view of changes in the environment flowing from a perceived hydrological crisis. Over 90% of respondents indicated said the region is hotter with less rain than in the past. Climatologists report no statistical change in the amount of rainfall since the 1950s. Regionally there is a significant increase in winter temperature and in the number of frost free days. Models indicate that future rainfall will be more varied with longer periods between precipitation events, but that rains will be more intense. However average total rainfall will not vary significantly. We conclude that local biocultural knowledge provides an opportunity to understand local responses to climate change and help develop evaluation tools based on local epistemologies, with the potential to more adequately provide strategies for amelioration and mitigation.