Organization, Sense of Community, and Autonomy in the Pucará de Pesillo Indigenous Community, in the Olmedo Parish, Cayambe (Phase 1)

This qualitative research project focused on analyzing the social and political dynamics of the Kayambi indigenous community of Pucará de Pesillo, located in the Cayambe canton, Ecuador. The main objective was to establish the relationship between community organization, sense of community, and local autonomy processes. Given the scarcity of academic literature on this community, the study adopted a non-experimental, exploratory, and descriptive approach, aiming to reconstruct the social reality from the actors' perspectives. The methodology utilized in-depth data collection techniques, including semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and focus groups with leaders and elders. The analysis relied on semantic content analysis and categorization of narratives. The studied population is predominantly Kichwa Kayambi, engaged in agricultural and livestock production. The sample was non-probabilistic and purposive, selecting active members holding positions within community organizations. The study aimed to enhance the understanding of how internal structures and collective identity influence territorial and administrative self-management within the commune.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>To determine the incidence of the sense of community and organization on the autonomy processes within the Kayambi indigenous population, specifically in the Pucará de Pesillo community, during 2018.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>Political, social and community psychology