Bibliotecas y medicina indígena : experiencias en Argentina = Libraries and aboriginal medicine : experiences in Argentina

Abstract

“Aboriginal libraries” project (2001-2005) was developed by the author in northeastern Argentina, in indigenous communities belonging to three different ethnic groups. The project was aimed at designing and implementing a library model specifically intended to provide services to native populations. Those services included the recovery of oral tradition and history, the preservation of endangered (minority) aboriginal languages, bilingual literacy campaigns, support to bilingual intercultural education and reinforcement of local culture. The libraries also worked as a community centre for the spread of strategic knowledge, especially sanitary information, due to severe health problems in the area. Among oral tradition records, a great number of health practices were collected, including the use of natural resources in medicine. Combined with modern education tools, this traditional wisdom -usually kept in closed elders circles- was used in programs of health improvement launched by libraries and supported by regional hospitals and physicians, and spread among young generations. The paper underlines the importance of libraries in the spread of strategic knowledge -specially the forgotten traditional wisdom- and the possibilities of collaboration with other institutions in the search for solutions of important community problems and the improvement of the users’ welfare.