Socio-cultural implications of indigenous migrations from northern Ecuador

Abstract

This article explores the socio-cultural implications of indigenous migrations of the Otavalo group in northern Ecuador, analyzing how modernization processes driven by the group itself have strengthened their cultural identity rather than weakened it. Through national and international commercial migrations, the Otavalos have achieved a solid economic position, challenging the traditional notion that modernization leads to cultural loss. Based on field research conducted in 1993 and 1995, the study distinguishes three stages in the migration process and examines how each of them has influenced the ethnic consciousness and social organization of the migrants, highlighting their evolution towards a broader pan-indigenous identity.