When the desert meets the sea: the annual journey of quitovaquenses to the San Jorge beach as a community of practice

Summary

This paper presents an ethnographic account of the people of Quitovac, Sonoras yearly journey to the sea. The village is set amidst the Altar desert. Every year the people of this town take a trip to the Sea of Cortés and make the shore a very special place. I present this account from the perspective of communities of practice emphasizing how the activities they undertake are the result of a continual interaction between people and places and between the distinct actors present. I also take into account the ephemerality of the material remains of such an important ritual that leave scarce evidence of its importance. This interplay gives particular meaning to the encounter with the sea that result in reinforcement of community identities. Moreover, the details of dwelling at the sea are maintained and passed on through this yearly practice to folks that carry out their daily existence in their village in the desert.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Fairs, Feasting, and Ritual in Northern Mexican Contexts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 17612