Restorative validity and healing through inquiry: A visual ethnographic case study in Guatemala

This case study is an exploration of the potential restorative and healing qualities inquiry. The co-authors—a university-affiliated researcher, a Kaqchikel Maya community leader, forensic anthropologists—document their stories navigating participatory action research project as co-researchers. Using visual ethnography, we illustrate how approached inquiry from place validity, which challenges inquirers to reclaim restore humanity researched, process itself. Through culturally sustaining frame, grounded our interpretations in cultural elements land, community, attachment place. We demonstrate intertwined various ways knowing methods, Indigenous oral tradition interactive techniques such ripples change, co-create form rooted relationships, justice, liberation. As peace, conflict, justice researchers practitioners work with those who have been subjected witnessed atrocities, problematize whether methodological practices are line values care. In moving toward ask: If outside world robs people humanity, identities, memories, do simply observe document these injustices; or can reclamation restoration?