Existence as Resistance: Curanderismo as a Framework for Decolonization

Abstract

This thesis examines curanderismo and its potential as a decolonizing force. Curanderismo is a Mexican-American “folk” magical religious tradition that focuses on healing physical ailments and maintaining spiritual balance. Comprised of a blend of Indigenous Native American components and Catholic practices, it employs natural tools such as herbs, eggs, and water to bring equilibrium to the mind and body of a client. It is believed that a curander@, or healer, has been given a don, or gift, from God that enables them to provide healing to others, acting as a conduit of divine power. I argue that curanderismo, as a product of multiple and disparate cultural traditions, occupies the in-between space of nepantla; in doing so, it facilitates decolonization efforts by enabling practitioners to resist and subvert colonial institutions like the Catholic Church, the Federal government, and social patriarchy.