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11/1/2001 - Chile’s Indigenous Mapuche at…“War” by Peter Keller

ICWA LETTERS Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation provided fellowships enable outstanding young professionals outside United States write about international areas issues An exempt operating foundation endowed Charles R Crane Institute supported contributions minded individuals foundations TRUSTEES Joseph Battat Mary Lynne Bird Steven Butler William F Foote Kitty Hempstone Pramila Jayapal Peter Bird Martin Ann Mische Dasa Obereigner Paul A Rahe Carol Rose Chandler Rosenberger John Spencer Edmund Sutton Dirk J Vandewalle HONORARY TRUSTEES David Elliot David Hapgood Pat M Holt Edwin S Munger Richard H Nolte Albert Ravenholt Phillips Talbot Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foundation Four West Wheelock Street Hanover New Hampshire 03755 U S A PK THE AMERICAS Peter Keller Forest Society Fellow Institute writing about national private parks Chile Argentina Chile Indigenous Mapuche War By Peter Keller Viva La Guerra Naci Mapuche Spray painted shelter Nueva Imperial Chile NOVEMBER TEMUCO Chile Something place Spray painted graffiti stops buildings support continuing Mapuche Nation Meanwhile drowsy community Nueva Imperial continues daily zombie procession buying bread going having lunch evening walks around plaza watching TV operas With tranquil setting maybe passed through without stopping Maybe people Perhaps underground Moreover I Winka likely Anyone Mapuche considered Winka However doesn Mapuche understand fight recouping ancestral lands maintaining cultural traditions desire autonomy After Chile observing Mapuche struggle having touched indigenous themes several newsletters I decided dedicate month November examining issue closely What account insights state Mapuche conflicts culture governance issues Indigenous Communities Brink War El Diario Austral November Front headline Brothers unite recoup right bread More graffiti Nueva Imperial The Mapuche people eight distinct indigenous communities Chile However percent Chile indigenous population Ac cording census nearly million Mapuches resided Chile country million Mapuche ancestral territory includes Biobio River south Island Chiloe The Mapuche means people Mapudungun Mapu language The Pehuenche Hilliche Puelche Lafquenche digenous groups included under broad Pueblo Mapuche Pacification Araucan Spanish colonizers referred Mapuches The other indigenous communities include Aimara Rapa Nui Atacame Quechuas Collas Kawashkar Y La Ley Ind No Article Currently population Chile around million In nearly Mapu population lived cities total based Santiago Another census conducted process spanned centuries until Up point Mapuche communities occupied territory living within sedentary fishing agriculture family clans along coast nomadic pastoral toward Andes As Conquistadors attempts pacify Mapuches quickly learned niques defend their Mapuches sidered inventors mounted infantry riders horse reins other fighting They their ground Chilean Republic developed constitu stating lands south Cape Horn Chile Beginning Chilean government vited foreigners settle south Biobio River Ger first arrive followed Swiss French British Over years nists successful occupying Mapuche territory developing farms ranches By 1900s colonization swing Chileans foreigners incorporat Mapuche territory country political economy Demands Mapuches recover ancestral lands largely ignored until 1960s several agrarian enacted Interestingly enough reforms place campesinos rural economic lower class national regional level perma workers fundos farms dotted country Nonetheless indigenous workers chance recover lands urped century Agrarian reforms resulted expropriation hectares within properties However turned Mapuche communities cooperatives received lands The Chilean agency charge process Corporaci Reforma Agraria CORA tained legal control recovered These lands legally constituted indigenous property which proved costly Mapuche community military General Augusto Pinochet September Under Pinochet agrarian reform became contra reform CORA lands privatized Led National Forestry Corporation Conaf Director Julio Ponce Leruo Pinochet lands auctioned highest bidder Much lands corresponded Mapuche control Provinces Arauco Malleco Caut litical subdivisions within Regions auctioned forestry companies Mininco Forestal Arauco C recex companies center current Mapuche conflicts In Decree enacted forestry promoted pansion plantations subsidizing percent costs Estudio sobre Tierras Ind genas La Araucania Antecedentes Historico Legislativos Jos Aylwin Instituto Estudios Ind genas Universidad Frontera Comunidades Mapuche Empresas Forestales Tierras Bosques Conflictos Ra Molina Ot In Pueblo Mapuche Desarrollo Autogesti PK hectare planted trees Much these auctioned Mapuche lands suited growing eucalyp Monterey Forestry companies quickly state subsidies plant newly acquired lands these native trees creating effect monoculture tined lumber national interna tional markets In Mapuches suffered another setback Decree which divided Mapuche community lands small individual plots The Decree supported Catholic Church Temuco Bishop created ronment where these small parcels susceptible being raise capital often Mapuche The result intended unintended changed social composition Mapuche communities landowners tenants rural existences urban dwell providers receivers By military Mapuche groups ignited fight usurped lands beginning stage Ma puche One particular group El Consejo Todas Las Tierras leading fight regain Mapuche lands We successful getting nearly hectares forestry companies Consejo activist Jos Na visit Temuco office Surprisingly I asked still needed recouped answer number hectares remaining Curre Mapuche communities Lumaco ganizing protests hectare Fundo El Rinc owned Mininco Forestry Company As harvest season approaches Mapuches ering block Fundo entrance The community going allow anyone agreement Forestal Mininco community leader Juan Maril If doesn occur going territory Mapuches seeking disputed their benefit Tension contin mount other Mapuche activists region joining almost families Forestal Mininco would avoid repeat happened Province Mapuche radicals burned logging trucks After incident Mapu responsible government activated Interior Security Law listing three Mapuche groups danger national security In addition El Consejo Todas Las Tierras La Identidad Territorial Lafkenche La Coordinadora Arauco Malleco cited Since cident newspapers government officials referred overall issue Mapuche Conflict At tacks continued Forestal Mininco earlier hooded activists attacked caravan logging trucks escorted carabineros Chilean police force No damage injuries reported One remedy government purchase private lands transfer Mapuche communities The current indigenous passed created Land Water Fund purchase these lands conflict Thou sands hectares bought forestry compa price hectare continues doubling between lessening purchasing power Fund It seems sellers making profit public funds raising prices selling their property Most lands recovered forestry panies National Property Office Over hectares transferred government Mapuche communities However state lands within ancestral Mapuche territory designated national parks national reserves Chilo National Park While I obvious supporter national parks I always answer certain situa tions should applied others One Esteban Domihual Mapuche youth Mapuche village Icalma Argen border Chile Ninth Region I reminded principle After minute drive summit Andes about meters above level these parts reached where collects Araucaria trees known pehuen From vantage point looked alpine lakes Argentine border could distant prairies In summertime I weeks collecting Esteban I freedom living Our community doesn turned because would restrict He doesn worry about proposal exists mountainous above Icalma national Nev ertheless point heard least New Mapuche Nation Graffiti Temuco The September Winka party Mapuche Painted Nueva Imperial The September Chile Independence Day Chileans Dia La Patria Motherland This defines Chileans nation The national flown everywhere attached radio antennas displayed storefronts illuminated night sands light bulbs By September residences visible street Mapuches Lumaco guerra El Diario Austral November A8 La Violencia Tiempo El Mercurio February D18 Mater ializaciones Conflictos Jos Aylwin O Instituto Estudios Ind genas Universidad La Frontera Institute Current World Affairs owner subject The sense nationalism strong Chilean journalist Jos Mariman critically wrote Chilean statesmen trapped centralist vision state united nation culture language little capacity understand dimension Mapuche issue Maintaining identity minority population difficult enough Chile harder since Constitution doesn acknowledge indigenous cultures Given overbearing presence Chilean national I particularly interested assessing Mapuche guage ceremonies dances music indicator strength preservation continuance Mapuche culture I traveled Andes Lonquimay where I heard elementary school making progress teach Mapudungun school hildren Quinquen This relatively community nearly families In Mapuches began arriving belief ernment would begin transferring state lands munity Finally community Quinquen received hectares divided between families common property The Quinquen School shaped structure curved nearly reaches ground built German funding structed community members Chilean environ mental group Codeff Patricio school teacher lives kilome Carahue During stays Quinquen teach students range eight years His knowledge Mapudungun limited however elders community school teach students weekly basis It Ma puche children learned Mapudungun first taught Spanish school Patricio Now other around Only learn Mapudungun their parents grandparents Before I students carabineros stopped inquire about mission Interviewing inter viewer become famil process during Mapuche month I encountered level suspicion mistrust start conversations whether government officials community leaders police What doing asked skinny officer He continued You write stating objectives project I followed instructions wondered carabineros attentive presence before digital camera stolen Temuco Finally I dents We pictures animals explained their characteristics Spanish Mapudungun Most animal names horse Mapudungun descriptive words these nimals Patricio difficult develop specialized programs because Ministry Education controls curriculum altering bureaucratic However proudly added students learned Chile national anthem Mapudungun Here example Ministry Education bureaucracy Do statistics percent elementary schools Mapuche communities teach Mapudungun I asked statistics department Ministry Education Temuco office No information You speak During first Dia La Patria Chile Carabinero knocked shared rental early morning I answered asked house owner The landlord owner lives outside He asked identification I front window What would happen I I asked He responded giggle motion across After telling I writer serious around US La Verdad La Expoliaci Jos A Mariman Rocinante magazine September Without camera pictures I newsletter Web sites images words suffice PK program coordinator His office floor regional government building I found office asked question again Intercultural Education Program Coordinator Mario Cayun I compiling information It should ready replied Cayun In Chilean Code essentially telling If lucky I start But I information contin You authorization Sergio Alavc First letter request This I realized speaking using stall tactic I called office times tinued around No Sergio office Try tomorrow Then tomorrow No Sergio meeting today Mario Monday Such simple question I thought again nothing simple govern ments Mapuches From experience I imagine hurdles expanding school curriculum include formal Mapudungun language classes To I should being theme intercultural education For example international workshop organized Santiago Conadi equivalent U S Bureau In Affairs teaching indigenous languages schools However before workshop interviews educators Curarrehue Quinquen Nueva Im perial event One important ceremonies Mapuche Nguillatun This takes place sacred sites spring This religious ceremonies basic renewal thanks harvest I invited Nguillatun Pedregoso headwaters Biobio River It there I Esteban Domihual person I hiked later Icalma He explained significance ceremony Temporary shelters branches covered sticks large circle opening facing These structures called ramadas families local communities their homes during ceremony One through gathered Lonkos community chiefs would their dancers drummers center circle The steady rhythm women drumming Kultr wooden based leather topped barefooted feathers their began shuffle other around pehuen place middle circle In ceremony cians dancers tribute staple their traditional Esteban I stood outside large circle other community members horses double proces around ramada Each fewer people partici Nguillatun Esteban remarked The circle filled ramadas along Now circle filled Mapuche youth interested these cultural traditions I afraid elders traditions Esteban reluctantly He dicted years possible Nguillatun celebrated The Pedregoso hundreds Mapu communities Chile I found communities performed Nguillatun years while others consistently Near Carahue communities celebrated Nguillatun decades Jos Paillao tried satisfy interest culture Dur breakfast simple square wooden struc without indoor plumbing showed musical instruments about dances remem bered Jos played Trompe which mouth court women Another instrument played Pifilka simple wooden flute dances One dances recalled Caballo Purrum young horse competi between interested woman As I departed Jos Mapuche culture begin teach practice traditions Generally schools relied teach because families forgotten However schools taking responsibility earnest From experience Mapuche students strong interest their culture universities Temuco Santiago I attended seminar organized students Catholic University Temuco titled Ma puche Conflict A Valid Reality Only people attended seminar university auditorium Community student leaders speeches mostly receptive crowd Common statements included The focus violence behind violence other issues It unfair money study study money The problem political tactical We unite Afterward I accompanied Victor Vladimir community leaders hunger strike other students protest closing centrally located Mapuche student housing complex The hunger strikers taken Catholic Cathedral downtown Temuco hopes gaining support Bishop The Ministry Planning ordered state owned student housing complex closed being built Among rural Mapuches standard living minimum The percentage people living below level poverty Chile nationally However percentage Eighth Ninth Regions among Mapuches respectively Mideplan Conadi Institute Current World Affairs outside Bishop Manuel Camilo Vial largely ignored pleas student strik assistance matter Leave house because house I right decide things I house God respected sense leave I Eventually dents their cause dropped without support Church Gov ernment In reason hunger strike eluded except dents consulted closing translocation their usual Chilean bureaucrats In courtyard outside cupied hunger strikers I asked Victor Vladimir their impressions fight recover Mapuche lands They wanted Winka would interested these issues I showed newsl etters I happened newsletter Wendy Call ICWA Fellow Mexico Wendy newslet about Zapatistas Chiapas their fight against current Puebla Panama Plan They ticular interest newsletter stopped subcomandante Marcos black mouth They began giggle schoolboys looking Playboy magazine They remarks I could I They wanted charge inter views If wanted tacts raise money Their playful attitude wondering serious about their struggle entertainment Either I would think twice about donating Financial support Mapuche causes diverse oddly enough strong among religious organizations Projects funded governmental governmental entities Canada Germany England France U nited States common Equally common grams projects sponsored Protestant Evan gelical Baha Catholic religious groups Personally I worry about influence organized religions Mapu culture However I hundred years Mis sionaries several centuries impact daily Mapuche For instance wooden cross placed center circle Nguillatun ceremony Although Ma puche homes I visited barren hangings picture consistently Pope John Paul II World Vision international Christian organization Nueva Imperial Mapuche community sustain development As first value World Vision states We acknowledge God Father Son Holy Spirit We follow Jesus Mapuche spirituality traditionally polytheistic today Mapuche society dominated Christian faiths Mapuches troubled monotheism All these organizat teaching sustaining revenue generating practices building green houses growing crops raising livestock making tiles However I encountered programs maintain revive cultural identity through Mapuche ceremonies language dances music If Mapuches preserve their culture means might media diluting enrich Currently medium exists Mapuches Radio Baha which produces several programs Mapudungun Until another source monthly journal Voz Mapuche Auk El Consejo Todas Las Tierras produced publication funding WWF International until financial support pulled cutbacks WWF Many possibilities exist radio television print media advantageously needs creativ Obispo responde huelguistas El Diario Austral November A6 In Icalma I found interestin environmental management project Indigenous Institute organization Catholic Church It developed manuals local Mapuches filing water pollution complaints securing titles among other issues Icalma popular summer camping destination locals think septic systems leaking Lake Icalma The environmental control project financedby Fund Americas program initiative relieve United States Unfortunately after three requests Institute would share manual institutional policy Baha faith based mission Baha Iran declared himself fulfilled promise religions messenger God PK programming financing During New Zealand years I watched TV channel dedicated exclusively Maori indigenous people New Zealand Although I rstand Maori language I would watch Maori program night fascinated rhythm spoken words Other examples exist promoting tiple cultures languages One comes devel country Kazakhstan There office signs identifying government agencies posted Russian Kazakh Indeed countries bilingual signs Chilean offices Ninth Region provide rectional signing public information Mapudungun Spanish One simple profile create aware multiple cultures install signs describing geographical features appropriate languages For ample river crossing Rio Grande Big River Mapuche territory should include Futaleuf The Mapuche Intifada Indigenous Uprising Worsens El Mercurio February D17 Freedom Mapuche Political Prisoners Graffiti Temuco Shortly after return democracy Chile after military dictatorship special commission digenous people formed government With representation indigenous groups government officials developed proposal comprehen indigenous The proposal Na tional Congress debated years until compromise passed October Indigenous Law No includes sections issues education culture judicial systems indigenous rights creation National Corporation In digenous Development Conadi Three funds initiated under water recupera others indigenous development education projects The provides creation indigenous development areas which designated Finally authorized creation national advisory council provide policy guidance Council members include Conadi National Director officials various governmen agencies designated President Repre sentatives ethnic groups elected their communities comprise bership subject Presidential approval How compete current political system asked Jos Na referring Mapuche representation Congress If elected candidate major party captive wishes party bosses If elected independent power influence legislation Currently member Congress Mapuche Francisco Huenchumilla Christian Democratic party At municipal level mayors Mapuche elected indepen candidate These communities Curarrehue Tir Puerto Saavedra Los Alamos Congressional tions scheduled December throughout Chile Teoberto Nancupil Baeza Mapuche running independent candidate He identifies closely Mapuche cause district majority Mapuches chances winning party system Mapuches beginning develop proposals adapt current political system completely change One example New Zealand Australia where indigenous population directly elect certain percent senators representatives seats national congress With system based percentage overall population Mapuches could elect nearly candidates Congress El Consejo Todas Las Tierras proposed creation autonomous Mapu parliament This would serve institutional bridge between State Mapuche Nation Under proposal Parliament would located Temuco would control issues economic activities culture education religion health housing among others Neither proposal headway which prising given current adversarial relati onship between Mapuches National Congress In effort control autonomy Mapuche ancestral territory Mapuche Pehuenche commu nities developed written agreement Na tional Forestry Corporation Conaf using Villarrica National Reserve The agreement allows Mapu communities collect medicinal plants conduct religious activities pastures livestock manage forestry projects hectare National Reserve Financial resources French environmental fulfill certain aspects agreement Conaf currently developing another agreement Mapuche communities Puc regarding adjacent Villarrica National Park However anticipate complicated profile operators Back Icalma I asked members munity association about level cooperation Highest legislative priorities Mapuches ratification Convention International Labor Organiza Former President Aylwin Administration Congress Convention ratification years result Current President Lagos Convention receiving results Institute Current World Affairs nearby Conguillio National Park Both replied There facial expressions smelled something Curiously asked Why would What would national I replied examples U S national parks occupy ancestral indigenous lands You could exhibit traditional culture visitor center present interpretive talks about current Mapuche culture I This could reaching population because thousands people They still weren interested perceived reaucracy effort Freedom Self Determina Mapuche People Spray painted Temuco Each Mapuche community little different Although I visited dozen communities hundreds rarely I sense I encour overall vibes community though Maquehue Only kilometers south Temuco Maquehue pastoral setting provided dents Country gravel roads connect rural homes schools hospital The hospital model region attracted visitors around world former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton visit while Chile Just three years Indigenous Association Makewe Health management hospital which founded An glican Church What makes hospital special combines western medicine Mapuche medicine Be sides doctors nurses eleven Machi shaman healers patients providing diagnosis remedies Mapuche illnesses Many Mapuche communities touch Machi spiri physical health Luckily Maquehue Machi tinue tradition In spite bright I disappointed unity within Pueblo Mapuche In Temuco I asked Victor student leaders Mapuche munity whole unite accomplish common goals It error think Mapuches fight Throughout history decentral found ourselves sometimes opposing sides For instance Mapuches helped Spanish Conquis tadors One advantage system without leader difficult governments treaty because represented common Mapuche people The overall coordination communication Mapuches Mapuche issues frustrating observe Even though I understand Mapuche society choose incorporated nation vocating representative democracy capitalism I Mapuches system Their political power positive changes playing according conquerors rules Even Mapuche political voice continues fragmented malaise disorganization This became clear Te University seminar entitled Mapuche Conflict I seminar Karina Rojas friend Argentina Karina mixture ethnicities cluding French African Huarpe later indig enous people central Argentina Few indigenous First Nations remain Argentina government highly successful during Indian Wars 1800s Karina Chile learn about state Mapuche culture hopefully inspiration community Disappointed unity leaned Do phrase Div Triunfar means because happening Literally means divide triumph In identifying source division historical Looking triumphant winners doesn forestry companies government church perhaps globalization Sadly those situations A losing evident Mapu along cultural diversity Institute Fellows chosen basis character previ experience promise They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying designed programs study writing outside United States The Fellows required report their findings experiences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique reporting analysis periodic assess international events issues ICWA Letters ISSN published In stitute Current World Affairs Inc exempt operating foundation incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 The letters provided charge ICWA available libraries profes sional researchers subscription Phone E Mail ICWA valley Fax Web Site Executive Director Peter Bird Martin Program Assistant Brent Jacobson Publications Manager Ellen Kozak Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rog Foundation The information contained publica reproduced without writer permission