miércoles, 12 de octubre de 2011

Sergio Villalobos: certainties to cause controversy

The historian awarded the National Prize of the field, ensures that they are neither genuine pehuenches Mapuche or Araucanians, but a derivation of the Huarpe Indians of Cuyo, Argentina. It also ensures that pehuenches allied with the Spanish-Creole to avoid being victims of rival native bands.

Sergio Villalobos Rivera knows that his research findings will not please the indigenous world, especially the most radical. And it is Pehuenches, the situation is not going to be very different.

"It's hard to take him because he has no understanding of what is happening. They act on impulse because there are political interests behind. They are based on oral traditions but there is a scientific and methodological work that would sustain what they say, "reflects Villalobos. However, this position makes this "does not mean that we should not try to let them know the issue."

Is that for the National History Award, which was some time in the halls of the Union Club to discuss the history of The Angels and the area, and are years of research and tours of the sectors, which are have led to these certainties.

This work, he says, has been corroborated by the work of several specialists fronts but, he adds, are known only in the scientific and rarely transcend the mass media.

Certainties

The first of his certainties pehuenches states that "genuine" are not Mapuche or Araucanians, but a derivation of huarpes indigenous groups living in the region of Cuyo, Argentina, who had their customs, language and physical type characteristic.

Anthropological studies have concluded the matter, he says, that the physical type corresponds to a branch of those Indians who meet certain characteristics. First of all, were between 1.70 to 1.72 meters in height, body type that has never existed among Mapuches or Araucanians. In addition, the texture of the skull bone (especially bony) is far from what can be seen in the so-called Mapuche itself.

It is still possible to find, he says, some physical types as described in some parts of the High Bio-Bio and Antuco.

He also argues that this group were very few. Among some 10.000 and 15.000 preferably living across the range, but exert influence from the area of St. Fabian of Alico (the north) to the area of ​​Lonquimay.

However, he adds, the Araucanians were out and imposed their customs. Says her life was precarious. They lived in constant anxiety. Trasandino side, beset by bands huilliches, and country, by the Araucanians.

"The dispute was constant. Therefore, the Pehuenches had to ally with the Spanish-Creole so that they defend them, "he says in his most controversial statement. Even states that sometimes came to fight together against the Araucanians.

This has been holding back because characters as relevant as Bernardo O'Higgins himself, when he arrived to take charge of the Farm The Canteras, had much appreciation for the Pehuenches. But he argues that the relationship was not free but it was based on a form of trade that favored both. While marketed pehuenches salt, ostrich feathers and skins, Hispanic natives did the same with horses, iron and alcohol.

Later, however, with the start of the Independence, there was chaos in relationships that were already settled where pehuenches were seduced by the warring factions (and Creole patriots) to fight each one by his side.

And there, and began to write another story.

Pewuenches: Archaeological Features

According to the archaeological literature, there are no studies to date or ancestral discoveries, in this case, the original inhabitants were and still are Pehuenches.

You can only mention that, in the grove of Callaqui, and Sour Lake Argentina, there is a ceremonial stone, called Curalhue (stone of the spirits or the devil), granite, 1 m high and 2 m in diameter, featuring tubular excavations made by man.

Indian travelers invoke their protection when you travel, turning around and dropping it into the holes offerings, as they believe it has a calculated, invisible spirit capable of doing good or evil.

History Pewenche

Pehuenche community inhabits the mountain range lands of southern Chile since prehispanic times. They formed communities that were traveling on foot through the mountain range. According to Villalobos' influence had already received around araucana order of things including language, not yet entirely supplanted own. "

To survive engaged in their daily walks to hunting and gathering, to be directed mainly to the guanaco and the pinion.

With the arrival of the Spanish territory Pehuenche begins to change radically the way of life of these Indians, and that the appearance of white men or "huincas" and culture involved not only bloody military clashes, but the beginning of to an independent life and the gradual transformation into a position of subordination to western global culture.

The year 1628 date the first clashes between Spanish-Creole and Pehuenches, continuing with some intervals of peace until the end of the colonial encounters resumed later with Chilean troops until 1988, when police forces and community pehuenches Ralco-Lepoy staged incidents relating to a matter of land boundaries summer, locate the area of ​​conflict in a limit of farm The Barco, Saltillo Peleco zone.

In 1861, in the period of the war of Araucania, the Chilean forces were interned by the Bio Bio River, facing the Pehuenches and military defeats. Chileans Quilaco repopulated St. Barbara, villages that were destroyed in 1769 during a general uprising led by the chiefs pehuenches Lebia and Pilmigerenantu.

This raid ends the war against the Pehuenche, which are located in up and cuts. According to the law prevailing filing, applied between 1884 and 1929, were given plots of land under common enjoyment and forbidden to sell to each Indian parentage.

With the advent of life on reductions, pehuenches end their semi-nomadic life, as have reduced hunting and gathering areas, and on the other hand it triggers the definitive incorporation of different land use and strange to them: agricultural activity which over time will become permanent in the production system Pehuenche.

Headquartered in Indigenous Commission granted them a legal right to land in the early twentieth century, but that process did not consider all the inhabitants and procedural injustice was favored settlers over the traditional owners of the land.

There are still disputes over land bordering the Andes and the Bio Bio river banks because Pehuenche not get their title deeds were displaced by non-indigenous settlers. To this we must add that in 1979, the government of Augusto Pinochet Ugarte passed a law which provided for the division of communities and the separation of the lands traditionally exploited communally.

Currently estimated at ten thousand pehuenches that inhabit the mountainous area between the River Bio Bio and the lake Icalma.

Geographic isolation in which they live has facilitated ethnic retains much of its traditions, its culture, its attachment to the land and its harmonious relationship with nature. Pehuenche economy based on agriculture, livestock raising, harvesting pine nuts and some handicrafts.

The lack of sufficient land to sustain the population, the depletion of soil productivity and lack of opportunity have put Pehuenche an acute economic crisis that is exacerbated by the migration of younger and a gear adverse social conditions: illiteracy, malnutrition, alcoholism, lack of appropriate education for their culture, lack of doctors in permanent posts and poor access to justice, among other factors.

Official data from the National Institute of Statistics indicate that in the High Bio Bio, where most of the population are Pehuenche extreme poverty rates above 90%, demonstrating that here prevails a strong socioeconomic situations depressed the country.

The Conflict of the Hydroelectric

But in High Bio Bio has been anything but quiet. Especially in recent years. And not only by opposition to the construction of hydroelectric power attracted. So have the historical claims on land pehuenches in private hands.

Both processes have led to unfortunate incidents such as arson, injunctions and even with fatalities.

When in the early 90s began to build the plant Pangue, indigenous and environmental organizations mobilized to reject the project. But with the Ralco plant, judicial opposition and in fact came to jeopardize the project, which has suffered two separate delays in its implementation. Now fully operational state.

Access roads were cut, an attempt was made trucks of contractors, there were clashes with police, should be required for violation of the Terrorism Act that sentenced a leader to five years in prison. The most critical years were in August 1998 and early 2001.

Land claims are based on cultural and economic importance of land to the impoverished indigenous families, now confined to a territory that does not allow its sustainability. Most of them live in communities with market titles from the early last century.

During these decades the population has seen strong growth but the surface remains the same. The conflict is rooted in Queuco River Basin, specifically in the farms and Trapa Trapa Queuco and in the summers of the same, but also reaches the Ralco National Reserve, on the Bio Bio drawer.

The saddest episode was experienced on 13 July 2002 when a conflict within the community Cauñicu the way it was the "land reclamation action" ended with the deaths of two pehuenches and wounded 10 others .

Amid these protest actions, almost dine settler families or small farmers, still awaits a definitive solution after being transferred from the mountains to the outskirts of Santa Barbara.

The new community of High Bio Bio

The town of High Bio Bio that was segregated from the present town of St. Barbara, located in the southeast area of ​​the region and the border with Argentina. Has an area of ​​3 000 379.5 square kilometers (the largest in the region of Bio Bio), representing 22.4% of the territory of the province of Bio Bio.

Its population is 20.293 inhabitants, corresponding to 5.8% of the population of that province, intercensal a growth of 17.6%, the largest of the jurisdictional area.

Back in the 80s there was a request to create the town of High Bio Bio, which is not subsequently made. This was based on the fact that the town of St. Barbara had two very different realities from cultural perspectives and productive, considering that its eastern part is occupied by a group of communities pehuenches, with marked social deprivation and serious problems of integration to development.

In turn, the western sector is inhabited by non-indigenous population, with a very different level of development and with an agricultural and livestock-intensive features, integrated into the country's central valley.

With the same arguments, the proposal was again raised at the beginning of the decade of the 90's by former Congressman Octavio Jara Wolf and later by the provincial governor Juan Carlos Coronata.

The town of High Bio Bio has an approximate area of ​​2.100 km2 and is the largest in the province, leaving the town of St. Barbara with a remaining area 260 thousand km2. For the population, High Bio Bio would have an estimated total of 6,300 inhabitants, St. Barbara turn 14,000.

The commune has a basic equipment such as schools, general practice, health centers, police, headquarters of the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), National Indigenous Development Corporation (CONADI) and Supply Company Isolated Areas (Emaza). It is also a modern high school.

The creation of this commune was part of a commitment by the Government of Chile in the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the OAS in the framework of the intervention in the dispute raised in connection with the construction of the Ralco dam.

Executive's decision reflects the need to periodically adjust the territorial structure of the country demographic dynamism, growth in economic activity and meeting the demands of the community, using technical criteria to ensure the viability of the new community as a territorial unit .

Journey to High Bio Bio

The route from The Angels to St. Barbara is 40 miles. The route continues along a path that starts encased by a narrow mountain range locking drawer raging river Bio Bio, which moves between high cliffs.

A 52 km. east of St. Barbara is the village of Ralco, the last point to stock up on all that is required for travel and obligatory place to record in the possession of police border destination, type of vehicle and passengers.

Also, from there the pavement ends and the road-now-divided land in one: one that follows the river Bio Bio and other river Queuco drawer.

Step Pucón-Mahuida.

History Used since ancient times by indigenous communities on both sides of the mountain range, the Step Mahuida-Pucón has the great distinction of being one of the lowest in the south.

Located just 200 meters thousand above the sea (Pichachén in Antuco, is 2 000 20 meters), divides two communities, one on each side of the ridge.

On the Chilean side, lies the community of The Barco, consisting of 34 families relocated by the construction of the Ralco plant, while trans-Andean sector is the Currical Millaín Mapuche community, composed of about 900 people.

It is located about 180 miles distant from The Angels sororiente by an asphalt road to the town of Ralco (km. 87). Follow a winding trail mountain range, with rolling folder in good condition, to the sawmill industry in the farm The Barco (km. 165). The last 15 kilometers are the layout of a trail that crosses mountainous and rocky areas.

Meanwhile, in the distance trans-Andean sector are much smaller and, consequently, improvements to make are substantially lower.

The resort is located Caviahue-Copahue just seven kilometers of border pillar and within these weeks, the trans-Andean authorities give their approval to fund improvement works that are missing.

Pewenche Communities - High Bio Bío

According to the 1992 census, 20% of the population aged 14 and over up to this indigenous group. Information for 1995 indicates the presence of 3.800 pehuenches in the commune, distributed Callaqui communities, Pitril, Cauñicu, Malla Malla, Trapa Trapa, Butalelbum, Ralco Ralco Quepuca Lepoy and to which has been joined in recent years the community of El Barco, consisting of about 40 families relocated by Endesa.

Community Ayin Mapu, made by another group of central pehuenches affected by Ralco, was outside the commune.

Community Portrait, Experiences

One of the most successful has been the implementation of a camping resort on the Boat Lagoon, where they were relocated some families affected by the flooding of the Ralco plant.

With reporting by Endesa, the infrastructure was enabled in the access to the lagoon, such as bathrooms, showers, camping tables and benches, among others, managed by themselves they also offered pehuenches traditional products and tours of the area.

In his first season were about five thousand people who are impressed by the surrounding nature. A success that left several million dollars to their managers.

On the other hand, with input from the Ministry of Planning and Fundation Chile, in the drawer of the river were fitted Queuco various venues, such as camping, to the attention of tourists between the communities and Cauñicu Pitril. Also offering traditional products, like food or crafts.

lunes, 10 de octubre de 2011

Community Portrait, which has High Bio Bio.

This area, in the eyes of the experts, is the perfect blend of indigenous culture and nature. Untamed rivers are winding mountains covered by a rich flora and fauna are the people who have written a rich history and distinctive seared by the geographic area they inhabit. Here you can develop a tourism potential that can have unexpected projections.

Tourism appears to be a very interesting economic alternative for new town of High Bio Bio. Is that those who have always known to its inhabitants, mostly pehuenches have were shocked to learn the reality of an ethnic group that refuses to die. Visitors to the mountains, lakes and forests have been in awe of nature displayed in all its glory.

This area, in the eyes of the experts, is the perfect blend of indigenous culture and unspoiled nature. They are untamed rivers that snake-covered mountains of pine, oak and all sorts of flora and fauna are its inhabitants, men of pehuén, who have written a rich history and distinctive seared by the geographic area they inhabit, breathtakingly beautiful but also harshly punished in times of rain and snowfall.

To be precise, the town of High Bio Bío part just before the bridge over the river which drains its waters Queuco the Bio Bio river, by that point, with an interesting flow.

The geographical area extends mainly between the drawers of both rivers to reach the border with Argentina. There are 2 000 300 km in total, the largest area for a commune in the province and the region.

In the '80s the High Bio Bio was practically forgotten. In the eyes of the Western world for decades was an area for adventurers, nature lovers and owners of large farms for livestock and the exploitation of native forests.

Its inhabitants, mostly pehuenches, inhabited the area since time immemorial. In the midst of pine and mountains, he developed his particular culture but has many elements of the Mapuche, developed very specific characteristics (differences in language, customs, etc).

Communication with the rest of the country referred to a road in poor condition which reached Ralco. Hence inland had only dirt roads - made in the late '70s and early '80s - impossible to move, even in the summer. No phone, much less electricity or other modern developments.

But everything changed early in the decade of the? 90. However, he did wake up to the area was not all his great natural beauty or cultural interest in the presence of Pehuenches single ethnic group in the country.

Hydroelectric plants were (first and Ralco Pangue later) that built the power company Endesa Chile, which put the area on the table for national and international news.

Attracted attention also opened the eyes of hundreds who came to the area on land that is beginning to open wide.

The company itself paved the way to Ralco and then put his hand to the State provide electricity to the area and improve the living conditions of its people with better schools and health posts.

The Origin Of High Bio Bio

The Origin of High Bio Bio. The reasons have always been the same. The geographic, ethnic and social were the arguments which support the idea of ​​shaping a new administrative-territorial unit in High Bio Bio, separating it from St. Barbara, the mother municipality.

The interest started back in the '80s when it was raised in a report by the National Planning Office (ODEPLAN) was shelved after somewhere.

In the '90s, the matter was again exposed, but now public. First it did in 1995 the then provincial governor Juan Carlos Coronata. Months later he did the late area MP, Wolf Octavio Jara, who even postulated a territorial change in the region by appending it with all the Bio Bio River basin from its origins in the lakes and Icalma Galletué of the commune of Lonquimay (Lake District).

The legislative proposal was part of the comprehensive development proposal called the High Bio Bio that later, with changes and amendments, took the form of Indigenous Development Area (IDA), first to be launched in the country. The let it fell to then-President Eduardo Frei in late March 1997, during the inauguration of the plant Pangue.

This mechanism involves the targeting of public action, which took the form of flagship projects such as the electrification of the country, improvement of health posts and schools, development of tourism. However, other proposals announced six years ago are still on hold, for example, the delivery of housing 300 (only a portion has been delivered) and the construction of Ralco Polytechnic High School.

But the idea of ​​the commune took off in January last year when talks began between Endesa Chile and the four families who rejected pehuenches give up their land for the Ralco plant, which were brokered by the Government through its Department of Development Regional. This is worth to say, after those affected filed a lawsuit against the Chilean state in the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the OAS human rights abuses.

It was these families during a meeting in Los Angeles, which made a specific request in this line as part of its package of proposals of general interest submitted to the authority.

The idea took hold in the coming months to the point that the proposal was incorporated in December, the government's bill to create new communities.

In Congress, the initiative recently sailed through expedited channels (in fact, took longer than the other three communes proposal) to get approved.
 
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