What is We Tripantü?
We Tripantü = la nueva salida del sol (Mapuche New Year)
On June 24th, my school celebrated We Tripantü, the Mapuche
New Year. There were displays placed in the hallways with artwork and
traditional items and there was an acto (assembly) in the afternoon.
It was well planned and well received by all. I thoroughly
enjoyed learning more about the Mapuche culture and its traditions. It was like
museum day in middle school!
Who are the Mapuche?
Mapuche = people of the earth (in Mapundungun, the native
language)
The Mapuche are an ancient indigenous civilization that
still exists today in Southern Chile. They have a strong history of defending
and fighting for their independence. They lived primarily in the fertile valley
regions of Chile, south of the Bío Bío River (aka where I live in Region IX).
Work distribution among clans was evenly distributed, and men and women alike
had important roles. They were hunters and gatherers, and the dishes they
created are still common in the region today.
The Mapuche lived in small groups, which was a blessing and
a curse. The physical separation among the people proved to be a major aid in
their defenses against the Spaniards during the time of the Inquisition; however,
this separation also prevented them from developing and progressing further as
a civilization. The conflict between the Mapuche and the Spaniards lasted over
300 years!
Today, the Mapuche make up approximately 4% of the Chilean
population, although, the majority of Chileans have some Mapuche ancestry (the
creation of the Chilean race was a mix of Spanish and Mapuche blood….although
today there is actually a huge Western European influence, especially German in
the South).
There remains a huge political struggle for the Mapuche in
Chile. The Mapuche want to maintain their own land, but as they continue to
lose it, they are forced to live in impoverished conditions. There is also an
internal struggle in many Mapuche people as they try to preserve their ancient
rituals and traditions in a society that is constantly changing and
progressing.
Society’s view on the Mapuche people is very divided,
depending on the area in which you go. Where I live, for example, the people
are very proud of their connection to the Mapuche. In other areas, even areas
nearby, however, people marginalize the Mapuche and view them as a lazy
culture. For this reason, the term “Mapuche” when referring to an individual
rather than to the ancient civilization as a whole, is a very sensitive
one....I personally see many similarities to the same marginalization that
exists for the Native Americans living in the United States (the difference
being how well-known the struggle is throughout general society).
In the South of Chile, Mapuche influence can be seen
everywhere. The names of many cities are actually words in Mapundungun (the
name of my home city, Loncoche, means “head of a man” in Mapundungun) and there
are signs in some places that are written in Spanish and Mapundungun (near Temuco…not
everywhere).
In terms of cultural artifacts, the Mapuche are commonly
recognized for their handcrafted silver jewelry, their wooden carvings, and
their wool goods (especially ponchos and blankets in natural colors rather than
bright dyes). Everything they create has designs that signify important values
they hold. Nothing they do is unintentional.
Below are a few photos and videos that I took at the acto. The director took photos of the displays in the hallways, but I do not currently have access to those...
(There are lots of traditional Mapuche dishes consumed on this day. Most consist of wheat or seeds.)
(The backdrop made for the acto. There is always a backdrop like this at our assemblies.)
(The director and one of the PE teachers playing a Mapuche game similar to field hockey.)
(The director and a Mapuche woman from the community who came to celebrate.)
An epic poem about the Mapuche.
My host mom informed me that there is a famous epic poem about the enduring battle between the Mapuche and the Spanish conquistadors written by a Spaniard. She says it's a powerful work worth reading. It is called 'La Araucana' by Alonso de Ercilla.
Additional Resources:
Here is a list of links for anyone interested in reading more about the Mapuche people.
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