Indigenous Social Habitability in Chiapas: Cohesion and Resistance Against Forced Displacement in Rincón Grande

Abstract

Abstract:
In the rural community of Rincón Grande, San Fernando municipality, Chiapas, housing is conceived as more than just a physical space: it is the nucleus where belonging, identity, and resistance are integrated. Despite living without legal recognition of their land, families have developed collective strategies to construct habitability together, strengthening social integration against constant threats of eviction, lack of services, and precarious construction conditions. This study documents, based on the Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology (participatory workshops, oral histories, analysis of organization, and collaborative social practices), how the community articulates housing improvement with internal organization, the creation of regulations, the planning of public spaces, and mutual support networks. The dynamics of coexistence, festivities, and collective decisions were examined as key elements that sustain the social fabric, even in contexts of high vulnerability. The experience of this community offers valuable and replicable lessons for other communities in Chiapas facing similar conditions, who seek to build a dignified habitat and a common future based on the strength of their organization.

Keywords:
Housing, social cohesion, community organization, mutual support networks.