ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a workshop proposal grounded in fieldwork, exploring how local perspectives redefine development. The chapter stems from the dual nature of development: An externally imposed, often extractivist model tied to megaprojects and a locally rooted process oriented toward collective well-being and sustainability. Drawing on concepts such as political ontology, pluriverse and deep listening, the workshop framework emphasizes endogenous knowledge systems, dialogue and community agency. The proposal integrates tools from international development practice and indigenous storytelling to foster participatory reflection, shared visions of a “good life” and strategies for navigating internal differences and external pressures. It aims to support communities in articulating inclusive and culturally grounded development pathways while remaining critically aware of the risks of co-optation and epistemicide.
