Resumen

LEAL GONZALEZ, Nila. Indigenous cultural patrimony and its institutional recognition. Opcion [online]. 2008, vol.24, n.56, pp.28-43. ISSN 1012-1587.

In the global world, legal bases for recognizing the importance of cultural patrimonies and their conservation are built through active community participation. The objective of the study is to reflect on the Venezuelan judicial framework that has given opportunity to local communities, particularly to the indigenous peoples, to participate in decision-making on the recognition, restructuring and conservation of their cultural patrimony. From an anthropological perspective, a reading of the judicial-political framework is made that protects indigenous hereditary rights with an eye to describing and interpreting the responses of the communities. For the analysis, Venezuelan legislation since 1999 and the native wayúu communities in the state of Zulia are taken as referents. Conclusions are that it is essential that, in their institutional interrelation with the State, native peoples build and apply protective measures for their cultural patrimony, keeping in mind the economic opportunities and ecological options available in the different areas they inhabit.

Palabras clave : cultural patrimony; indigenous peoples; legislation; participation; Venezuela.