Estudio cómo lo juvenil indígena se reconfigura en tanto nueva etnicidad generacional, de una forma alejada de “la costumbre” comunitaria. Mis reflexiones se basan en relatos que ilustran las condiciones étnicas de los jóvenes en un tiempo nuevo, con una visión diferente a la de sus padres y abuelos, con búsquedas, valores, emociones y expectativas que indican nuevos rumbos. Usé el método etnográfico y realicé entrevistas, conversaciones informales, observación participante y revisión bibliográfica y hemerográfica durante siete años en comunidades tsotsiles, tseltales y choles. Este material develó contenidos transversales de lo etnojuvenil, la nueva categoría analítica que propongo.
I study how indigenous youth reconfigure themselves in relation to a new generational understanding of their ethnicity, which is distant from traditional norms represented by “the custom” as practiced in the community. My reflections are based on testimonies which show the ethnic conditions of a new generation of youths, with a different worldview from that of their grandparents and parents, having other values, emotions and life expectations. I used an ethnographic method in which I conducted interviews and informal conversations, made participant observation, and did bibliographic research during seven years. My research brought to light many parallels in youth experience, leading to my coining of the term “Ethnoyouth” to describe commonalities among Tsotsil, Tseltal and Chol groups with whom I worked.