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Port of Call |
LAST UPDATE January 5, 2006
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| November 12, 2005 |
Valparaiso, Chile – Keeping the indigenous cultures of Chile alive: Mapuche People in the City |
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| Peace Boat participants were greeted one-by-one by their Mapuche hosts |
The history of Chile is richly woven with colorful cultures and traditions. However, over the years some of this cultural color has faded, due to factors including land loss, population drift from rural areas to the cities, as well as discrimination. Many Chileans fortunately, have been working together to ensure that the various indigenous cultures of Chile can once again flourish.
When Peace Boat arrived in Valparaiso, Chile, around 40 Peace Boat participants were able to get a taste for the unique traditions and ways of life for one of these cultures – those of the Mapuche people. Mapuche means ‘People of the Land.’ They are thought to be nearly one million Mapuche people in Chile, mostly living in the southern provinces of Araucania and Bio-bio. |
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| The local chief leads a Mapuche ritual to welcome the guests to their community |
Participants met their hosts on Mapuche-owned land in Valparaiso. Many Mapuche, including children, gather on this land during weekends and holidays, where they practice traditional cultural events and ceremonies. This helps to pass the culture and language of Mapuche on to the youth.
On arrival, the group was greeted in traditional style, before entering a ruku, a Mapuche house made of different types of wood that had been built by the local community. They were welcomed by the chief of the community, who said he was very happy to have the Peace Boat participants there, and had prepared a ritual greeting – a great honor for anyone who visits the community. |
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| A Peace Boat participant talks with an elderly Mapuche woman |
The local counterparts then demonstrated various traditional crafts and practices, such as wool spinning, and a range of musical instruments with rhythms based on soil, air, water and fire. Many customs of the Mapuche are based around the appreciation of nature.
Outside, Peace Boat participants played traditional games, cut wood for the fire, helped prepare lunch and practiced speaking Mapuche and Spanish with local children, youth and adults. Following a meal of traditional foods including empanadas, and a stewed fruit dessert of mote, the group then gathered in the ruka for a discussion about indigenous culture. |
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| Mapuche local Ricardo Curaqued with Peace Boat participant, Mina who is wearing traditional Mapuche clothing |
Participants learnt how Mapuche people live in modern Chile, and discussed the current situation and struggle for their rights. During the Pinochet rule of government (1973-90) Mapuche people – who have always been rural-based, were forced to move to poor quality land. Due to economic problems, many had to then move to the cities, and consequently lost much of their culture in the process. Ricardo Curaqued, a Mapuche lawyer, explained the legal battle of the Mapuche population to have their land rights recognized by the Chilean Government. “Since European establishment in Chile, the land rights of the Mapuche people have been ignored, and there are still problems recognizing this,” he said. The most important achievement has been that the constitution recognizes the existence of the Mapuche people.
Natalia Saavedra, a 22 year old Chilean who is not of Mapuche decent, said it was vital to keep the unique cultures of Chile alive. “Mapuche is an indigenous culture of our country, but in schools we learn more about the United States and England than Mapuche. I think we need to learn more about our own culture, and tell it to the world,” she said.
Mapuche children and youth said goodbye to Peace Boat participants with a dance, which gave thanks to nature. Participants responded with a Japanese dance, and an exchange of the traditional clothing of each culture. |
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| Educating children to be proud of their cultural heritage is one aim of the Mapuche community who met with Peace Boat participants |
Peace Boat participant Kuniaki Tanaka, 25, from Kagawa prefecture Japan, said he thought the Mapuche had a wonderful culture. “Please be proud of it, protect it, and let’s try to work together towards a discrimination free world,” he encouraged. |
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