ANT 495: Traditional Mesoamerican Agriculture, Dr. Janine Gasco, Professor, Dept. of
Anthropology
Spring Intersession, 2014.
ANT 495 will consist of a three-hour on-campus orientation on May 19, with travel to Chiapas,
Mexico from Wed., May 21-Wed., Jun3 4. The class is limited to a maximum of 10 students.
Background
I have been taking Dominguez Hills students to Chiapas for a two-week field methods class since
2000, all run through Extended Education. To date, I have taken nine classes, the most recent
being in January 2013. A total of 61 students have participated in these classes. The class is
conducted in and around the towns of Escuintla and Acacoyagua, places where I have lived and
worked since 1978. Despite problems in other parts of Mexico, this region of Chiapas has
remained tranquil (resulting in the State Department concluding in their most recent Travel Warning
for other parts of Mexico, that “no advisory is in effect” for the state of Chiapas, see below).
Nevertheless, I have always taken numerous safety precautions. One or more local residents
familiar with our work always accompany us on field trips. These individuals are leading members
of their communities, and they are very conscientious about our safety. When in town, it is class
policy that students must always be accompanied by other students. In fact, normally I am with
students at all times; we eat our meals together and we go to the field together. I am attaching
below a short article published in the Spring 2013 IEC Newsletter about our January 2013 trip.
Schedule:
5/19/14: On-campus orientation, 6-9pm, SBS C-134. Introduction to the course and to the
research area.
5/21/14: Travel to Chiapas, LAX to Tapachula, Chiapas, and bus to Escuintla, where we will be
based during the fieldwork.
5/22/14-5/31/14: Conduct fieldwork on family farms near the towns of Escuintla and
Acacoyagua, Chiapas. The class will accompany local farmers to their fields to learn
about swidden/shifting agriculture as it is practiced in the region. We will interview
farmers about the crops they plant and the annual agricultural cycle (preparing the land,
planting, care for the fields, harvest, and how families use the plants they harvest). A
typical day will begin with breakfast from 7-8, walking or taking local transportation to
the homes of farmers and then to their fields (lunch in the field), returning to Escuintla
at around 4pm, rest and dinner from 4-6, and most evenings (6-8) either group
discussions or visits from local farmers who provide additional information and answer
questions.
6/1/14-6/3/14: Travel by bus to San Cristobal de las Casas. In San Cristobal we will visit
museums and local Maya villages.
6/4/14: Return to Los Angeles, Tuxtla Gutierrez to LAX
6/6/14: Students submit journals, with fieldnotes, lecture and reading notes, and discussion of
what they learned
Logistics:
We will fly from LAX to Chiapas and back on Aeromexico, the only airline that currently provides
service between the U.S. and Chiapas.
We stay in a small, modest, family-run hotel in Escuintla, and walk or use public transportation to
get to our field sites.
Security
The State Department Travel Warning for Mexico notes explicitly that no travel advisory is in effect
for the state of Chiapas.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs. Mexico. January 9, 2014
For information on security conditions in specific regions of Mexico, which can vary, travelers
should reference the state-by-state assessments further below.
Chiapas: San Cristobal de las Casas is a major city/travel destination in Chiapas - No advisory
is in effect.
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings/mexico-travel-warning.html?utm_so
urce=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ca%2Ftravelwarnings+(%24%7
BTravelWarnings%7D)
Excerpt from Spring 2013 IEC Newsletter
International Education Center
College of Extended & International Education
California State University Dominguez Hills
SPOTLIGHT ON WINTER TRAVEL STUDY 2013 - Chiapas, Mexico
Four CSUDH students spent two weeks during Winter Intersession in Chiapas, Mexico, conducting field
research on traditional agriculture. The course, Mesoamerican Ethnoecology: Traditional Agriculture, was
taught by Dr. Janine Gasco, Dept. of Anthropology, as part of her ongoing research on traditional land-use
practices in the tropical lowlands of Chiapas. Students earn 3 units of credit in this program, which includes
pre and post trip meetings and assignments.
left to right Leandro Jimenez (local farmer), Gina Cobian, Carlos Burquez, Shirene McKinney, Dr. Gasco, Ana Valladares, Mariano Perez (farmer)
Students accompanied local farmers from the community of Acacoyagua to their fields where they
learned about agricultural practices such as preparing the soil for planting, the annual cycle for a variety of
plants, care of the fields, and harvesting crops. Dr. Gasco reported that on several occasions they were
able to eat food they had picked and processed, bringing to life the “from farm to table” concept. The class
also interviewed farmers about how they learned to farm, and how they viewed the life of a farmer .
CSUDh students Shirene McKinney, Ana Valladares, Gina Cobian grinding corn
The class travelled to San Cristóbal de las Casas where they visited the local market, the Museo de
Medicina Maya (Museum of Maya Medicine), the Museo de Cacao (Cacao/Chocolate Museum), and a
botanical garden with Chiapas orchids.
Student Carlos Burquez summarized: “It was really special for me to experience the generosity
and humbleness of the great people of Acacoyagua, Chiapas, who did not ask for anything in return and still
fed us, gave us the privilege of spending time with them, and embraced foreign students.”
Since 2000 Professor Gasco has taken students to Chiapas nine times and she is planning another
program for January 2014.