Ethnography of Social Interfaces and Relations with Nature of the Ecuadorian Siona Indigenous Population, Based on the Presence of the Oil Industry in Their Territories

This project focuses on the Siona indigenous population settled in the Sucumbíos province of Ecuador, analyzing how the historical and current presence of the oil industry (involving companies like Petroamazonas EP and Andes Petroleum) has reconfigured their relationships with the environment. Historically, hydrocarbon activity since the 1970s has generated new power hierarchies and socio-environmental impacts. The research aims to address the scarcity of studies specifically on the Sionas, focusing on the dynamics of power, hierarchy, and convergence among involved actors: state institutions, settlers, oil agents, leaders, and Siona women. The goal is to understand, from each actor's 'world of life' perspective, the social interfaces, encounters, disagreements, and negotiations that arise around oil exploitation. The issue is compounded by population displacement and the expansion of the agricultural frontier (African palm monoculture and cattle ranching) facilitated by mechanisms like marriages and godparenthood, altering indigenous land use. The primary methodology includes bibliographic research and the application of focus groups and surveys to various segments of the affected population.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>To analyze the diverse relationships with nature held by the Siona indigenous population in Sucumbíos, Ecuador, stemming from the presence of oil companies in their territories, in order to determine the social interfaces established with other involved actors.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>Inter-ethnic relations