Remedios de mi tierra: An Oral History Project on the Changes and Continuity of the Traditional Healing Knowledge and Practices of a Mexican Immigrant Mother from Guanajuato, Mexico

Abstract

This thesis looks at the impact of migration and place on the traditional healing knowledge and practices of a Mexican immigrant mother from Guanajuato, Mexico: Sofia Perez. Through the use of oral history methodology and the application of the Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Wisdom (TEKW) model and the Social Ecological Model (SEM) to analyze the narratives, this study looks at the origin of Sofia's healing knowledge and practices and at how she has managed to keep these traditions alive despite migrating to the United States and living in a society that may not believe in the efficacy of these healing traditions. The application of the Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Wisdom (TEKW) model provided insight into the healing traditions of Sofia's home community and the ways in which these were learned, practiced, and preserved and proved useful in looking at how this was done by Sofia before and after migrating. Next, the Social Ecological Model (SEM) proved useful in looking at how place and its various social, cultural, and ecological aspects have influenced Sofia's use of traditional medicine since she migrated. Overall, Sofia's knowledge and practices have been impacted by migration and place; however, she continues to practice these traditions as best as she can.