Teachings from the Lekil B’elil Notion: How Indigenous well-eating paradigms nurture people-ecology relationships?

Abstract (English)

In the current context of overlapping food, environmental, humanitarian, economic, and public health crises, providing equitable, healthy, and sustainable means of feeding is a significant challenge and a major priority (Devereux, Béné, & Hoddinott, 2020; FAO, 2017; Lang & Barling, 2012; Tomlinson, 2013). Indigenous worldviews and foodways often offer a more holistic and integrated lens to see and practice nutrition and food aspects. In this presentation, we explore the case of Mayan Tsotsil-Tseltal in Chiapas, Mexico, regarding worldviews and eco-philosophical principles linked to food and wellbeing. Through ethnographic work and Indigenous Research Methodologies, we connected with Tsotsil-Tseltal small farmers, rural community members, chefs, mixologists and scholars who are linked to the restaurant industry of San Cristobal de Las Casas city. Research findings highlight the Tsotsil and Tseltal notion of lekil belil as key in understanding Indigenous and local food systems, not only as a diet-focused model, but as a relational frame where caring, respect, reciprocity, traditional knowledge, and health are interplayed. The lekil belil notion comes from lek (Tsot., Tsel.), “good”, and belil or we'elil (Tsot., Tsel.), "food" (López Gómez et al., 2005; Polian, 2018), which can be partially translated as the well-eating or the good-food. Our research discusses how, in the Tsotsil and Tseltal context, feeding people means, literally and symbolically, to nurture a social group by reinforcing and recreating their cultural identity not only in everyday meals, but also during community feasts, rituals and ceremonies. We will explore the roles of language, local (agro)biodiversity, and eco-philosophical principles play in the lekil belil notion and the impacts this has in shaping (responsible) human-biodiversity relationships. Conclusions show that “well-eating” connects Indigenous people with the different communities they belong to through the act of feeding and caring for each other. Final recommendations contribute to the upholding of the roles of agrobiodiversity, traditional foodways, and cultural safeguard by bringing attention to the high relevance of Indigenous narratives of health and healing.