Mapuche culture gaining popularity in Chile

Southern Chile is home to the Mapuche minority group. These days they make up only around 4% of Chile's population. But they are fiercely proud of their culture.

The sound of a kultrun echoes across the hills of southern Chile. This is a traditional Mapuche drum, and it’s the most important musical instrument in their culture. For centuries, the Mapuche have used them in ceremonies and dances.

In the past, Chileans have largely ignored Mapuche culture ; regarding it as unsophisticated ; but that is changing. People are taking an interest in their country’s indigenous heritage.

Mapuche cuisine is becoming recognized. These fish come from the waters of Lake Budi, the world’s southernmost salt-water lake. Merken, a Mapuche spice made from smoked chilli peppers, is now exported around the world.

In Chile, the Mapuche are famous for their herbal medicine. So much so, that Mapuche pharmacies are now common on Chilean high streets. Like traditional Chinese medicine, these natural remedies offer an alternative to Western drugs.

But perhaps the Mapuche’s biggest cultural contribution is textiles, made to keep them warm in the harsh Chilean winter. Here, the women use traditional methods to prepare the wool. The dyes are made from plants. And the weavers use hand looms to turn the wool into cloth.

This community has started inviting tourists in, to experience Mapuche culture. Community leader Mauricio Painefil says they’ve had a lot of interest.

Painefil said, “Especially from Europe ; Germany, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, France, England; and from North America as well; the United States, Mexico, Canada, among others. And Asians too, we’ve had a few Chinese and Japanese.”

The Chilean government is trying to promote Mapuche culture.

German Riquelme, official of National Indigenous Development Corp., said, “We have to respect these communities and the indigenous people. We have to ask them what they want, rather than coming up with policies in an office and giving them something that perhaps they don’t need. So, we’re doing a lot of work on the ground, meeting the communities and asking them what they want to do.”

It’s a policy that should help bring dignity to Chile’s Mapuche, whose culture has long been overlooked.

Source: CCTV English, 24th January 2013 (includes video)

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