Is Collaboration a Diversion in Anthropology? Experiences Between Amerindians and Academics

In this essay, we come together as a Mebengokré and an academic to reflect on how we foster collaborative efforts. The demand for more inclusive methods is rising in current debates both within and outside academia. We outline some research and actions we have conducted together over the last 20 years to explore how these collaborations have shaped and are shaped by the changes in our lives, in our societies, and the global panorama. Our thesis is that these experiences can be viewed as diversions, as they allow us to enjoy our time together, provide us with tools to expand epistemological approaches, and lead us in unexpected directions.