Student: Marcelo Peña C.

Teacher: Javiera Palma

SPIE – 01
May, 19th , 2008

Discussion Thread:
Are the mapuches a civilization?
 Are the Mapuches a civilization?

ABSTRACT:

The following paper intends to clarify that the Mapuche communities constitutes
in fact, a civilization and not only a nation. In the first part of this research It will
be given a proper definition of culture, language and civilization. The Second
part of the paper, leads to the argumentative basis that support the theory

1. DEFINITIONS

1.1. CULTURE

Basically, Culture is “a shared, learned, symbolic system of values, beliefs and

attitudes that shapes and influences perception and behavior” -- an abstract
"mental blueprint" or "mental code."-. In these systems, language and thought
are based on symbols and symbolic meanings.

The process of acquisition of a culture its called “enculturation”, which is a

process of continuous learning that occurs progressively along the individual’s
life as it acquires social skills to getting in touch with its community, whose
members also share experiences, knowledge and values among themselves,
taking part in a “familiar” way of thinking and living.

A culture is mutually constructed through a constant process of social

interaction. At spites it is arbitrary, which means, not based on "natural laws"
and therefore it is external to humans; it is created by humans according to the
"whims" of its societies.

When a culture is internalized by the individual, it starts perceiving itself its

contents as habitual, natural and “taken for granted”

Source: Eastern Oregon University website - http://www2.eou.edu/

1.2. LANGUAGE

A language is considered to be a system of communicating with other people

using sounds, symbols and words in expressing a meaning, idea or thought.
This language can be used in many forms, primarily through oral and written
communications as well as using expressions through body and face.

Languages along the history of human civilizations have distinguished among

themselves due to country or city boundaries, population culture, demographics
and history of each civilization, which through combinations of blending
cultures, environment and other factors; have evolved their own unique style of
a language.

Source: http://www.unixl.com/dir/education/
1.3. DEFINITION OF CIVILIZATION

It is defined as the total culture and way of life of a particular people, nation,
region that has reached to a state of advanced cultural, political, social, legal
and intellectual development and organization; that shares the same territory -or
a populated area.

Source: http://www.thefreedictionary.com

Languages along the history of human civilizations have distinguished among

themselves due to country or city boundaries, population culture, demographics
and history of each civilization, which through combinations of blending
cultures, environment and other factors; have evolved their own unique style of
a language.

2. ARGUMENTATIVE BASIS

The mapuche nation

The Mapuche are the "people of the land", Mapu means land and che means
people. They are also known as Araucanos, a name given to them by the
Spanish colonialists. Before the "huincas" (Spanish) arrived in 1541, the
Mapuche who numbered one and half to two million were the original
inhabitants of the Southern Cone of the continent in a region which today
covers half of Chile and half of Argentina. The Mapuche nation comprised of
both sedentary and nomadic communities: hunters and gatherers, shepherds,
farmers and fishermen. They lived in small family groups known as lof, which
were under the authority of a Lonko (chief).

2.1. A civilization has a regional cultural diversity

The Mapuche territory had its border with the Inca Empire south of the Maule
river. This border was established after a long war and the failure of the Inca to
conquer the Mapuche nation by the use of force. The Mapuche territory is
divided into four main regions or wallmapu. These are known as: Puelmapu
(land of the east), Pikunmapu (land of the north), Lafquenmapu (land of the
Pacific coastal region in the west) and Huillimapu (land of the south). Therefore
the Mapuche of those regions are identified accordingly, such as Puelche,
Pikunche, Lafquenche, Huilliche. There are, however, other areas in which the
Mapuche are known by their association with a particular eco-system or natural
environment, for example Pewenche (people of the monkey puzzle tree) region,
Waidefche (people from the cordillera), Ranquilche (people from the apple tree
region), etc.
Before the colonialists arrived the Mapuche people had and still have a
distintive cultural identity, social organisation, language, religion and way of life.
Inhabiting such a vast area the Mapuche had developed regional cultural
diversity without a centralized power, but they nevertheless had a strong sense
of unity. Their clear sense of nationhood and an unquestionable desire to
maintain their self-determination and freedom, forced them into armed
resistance, firstly against the Inca Empire and then for over 350 years against
the Spanish, Chileans and Argentinians.

2.2. A civilization is socially and politically organized

The traditional Mapuche organization has its origin in the extended family
structure, known as Lof. It is shaped by their socio-cultural, political and
ideological concepts, complemented by their spirituality and religious beliefs, as
well as taking into account the harmonious relationship between man, land and
nature.

The Lonko or chief is the highest authority of the community. In times of war the
Mapuches organized themselves in Ayllarehue (8 rehue/lonko) and in addition a
Council of Lonkos comprised of representatives of all regions (Butalmapu) used
to choose a Toqui who was responsible and in charge of the army.

2.3. A civilization has a religion

The Mapuche are a deeply spiritual and religious society, their belief system
maintained that the world was created by a celestial family, who were the
creators of all beings as well as holding the power of nature.

The religious organization, which is formed by the Machi or spiritual leaders still
plays an important role in the decision making processes regarding the internal
affairs of each community. There are various ranks of Machi some of whom in
addition to their spirituality also have a profound knowledge of traditional
medicine and psycho-therapy, most of these being women.

The Nguillatun is the most solemn civil and military religious ceremony in the
Mapuche society. This sacred ceremony is conducted in an area specially
allocated by the community known as Nguillantue. The ceremony, depending on
the region may last two or three days and takes place in each region every two
or three years. There, at the altar or Rehue in the open air, the Mapuche of all
ages give thanks to Nguinechen, the Mapuche God. The ceremony is guided
throughout by the Ngenpin, the chief of the ceremony; The Machi and the Lonko
also play an important role in the preparation and conducting of the event.

2.4. A civilization has its own language.

The language of the Mapuche is called Mapudungun, which means the

language of the land, an oral language passed from one generation to the next.
According to our ancestral beliefs the language of the Mapuche emerges from
listening to the land, and all earthly elements, sounds and movements, including
the animals, birds, trees, wind, rain, and even the mountain springs. It is this
deep rooted communicative relationship developed between the Mapuche and
the land which has brought the language into being.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1. Civilization vs. Nation.

According to the historian Ibn Jaldún, Civilization “is a concept that expresses
dynamism and amplitude; It is generous and not exclusive at all; with a past
and opened to the future and as emergent as the cities. The concept of nation,
on the other hand, is rather static by nature; Nations or nationalities are closed,
dangerously exclusive and limited. Civilizations only contemplate a cultural
limitation, if any.”

3.2. Debate: Why coining the concept of “Mapuche Civilization” instead of

“Mapuche Nation”?

The extremely brief description of the Mapuche People has enough arguments
as to admit and prove that The Mapuche Constitutes a Civilization and not only
a nation; this based on the fact that a whole foreign Civilization such as Europe
settled within its limits through the Spaniards, and was not able to absorbe it, in
opposite with many nations overrode by the cultural, social and political
changes that a colonization implies.

According to the definitions given in the first part of the paper a civilization has:

- Delimited Territory
- Their own Cosmovision and Religion
- A clear social-political structure.
- A rich oral tradition
- A written and spoken language.
- Artistic manifestations, such as jewelry and clothing indumentary.

It all, and even more, can be found rooted inside the Mapuche Culture, which
still lingers on due to the efforts of their heirs, who struggle and fight just like
their ancestors did, to keep their ancient knowledge alive in the heart of
globalization.
3.3 SOURCES

 Eastern Oregon University website http://www2.eou.edu/

 Web de Ibn Jaldún http://bibliologia.info/objeto-de-las-“civilizaciones”-vi-
centenario-de-la-muerte-de-ibn-jaldun-1406-2006/

 http://www.unixl.com/dir/education/
 http://www.thefreedictionary.com

 The Mapuche Nation http://members.aol.com/mapulink3/mapulink-

3i/map-nat.html

 http://www.southamerica.cl/Chile/Mapuche.htm