Slippery interculturalism in indigenous textbooks in Mexico

Abstract

The recent intensification of both schooling processes in Indigenous communities and of intercultural/bilingual rhetoric in education make an indepth critical analysis of new “intercultural” course materials emitted by the Mexican educational system highly relevant and necessary. This analysis consists of unveiling Indigenous imagery as well as the messages the Mexican government is sending to Indigenous Peoples, revealing very little “interculturalism,” a paternalistic tone, and the furthering of an integrationist argument for the incorporation of indigenous people into the Western world view. The inculcation of an extreme patriotism is evident and calls into question the true intentions of the Mexican government. Also evident are commonly held stereotypes which are surprisingly pejorative. These course materials over a very narrow view of cultural diversity and caste doubt on the actual manifestation of “intercultural” policy in current course materials.