Political persecution of Mapuche teachers

Teachers Association of La Araucania sacks Mapuche teachers

Temuko, Wallmapu, 20/01/05

Public Statement

The Kimeltuchefe Society of Mapuche Teachers would like to alert the regional, national and international community of a new wave of cultural and political repression against the Mapuche movement. This time the repression is having an impact on a professional level, as individuals working within the education system suffer the effects of discrimination by The Teachers Association of La Araucania, IX Region, a body funded by the Catholic Church of Chile.

The Kimeltuchefe Society of Mapuche Teachers would like to express their full rejection of the methods used by Mr. Carlos Bravo, the representative of the Teachers Association, in firing many of our Mapuche teachers. These individuals are competent and qualified and have many years experience in the field of Intercultural Bilingual Education (IBE). We cite article 161 of the Work Code and article 87 of the Teacher's Rule of Conduct in defence of those involved.

With reference to what has occurred, our organisation would like to point out the following:

We reject the unjust and arbitrary way in which Mapuche teachers working in various schools within Mapuche communities of the IX Region have been dismissed as of 28/12/04.
All of the teachers in question were actively involved in workshops designed to assist in formulating educational proposals for Intercultural Bilingual Education to be used within their respective schools and communities.
The Teachers Association of La Araucania, along with other state bodies, had signed up to an agreement whereby it committed to collaborate in the implementation of IBE, and to not remove any teachers from their posts for the duration of the program. It has clearly not respected this agreement.
All of the teachers dismissed were actively committed to practical educational reforms which aim to introduce greater involvement of the Mapuche family and community with the student's learning process.
There are certain evaluational tools that can be used to establish the quality and efficiency of the teachers involved. These tools can be used objectively to ascertain whether the dismissed Mapuche teachers were (or were not) complying with their professional duties.
The teachers in question have, throughout their long careers, been involved in political processes within their communities. These processes seek to improve the rights and infrastructure of our communities as well as promoting our culture, language, education and religion.

All of the above is evidence that the Teachers Association of La Araucania has joined the Chilean government in its efforts to disqualify, pursue and marginalize Mapuches committed to demanding the cultural, religious, political and social rights of their people. This campaign against the Mapuche has no regard for the historical background that has produced their current situation.

It is important to link these acts of persecution to the events which occurred on the 7 th of January, when a number of Mapuche were detained and experienced violent treatment from Chilean police special forces in Ercilla. The purpose of this treatment is clearly to create fear and insecurity among any of our Mapuche brothers and sisters who work in defence of our collective rights as a people.

Each one of the teachers who have been dismissed has promoted the legitimate right of the Mapuche to use their own mother tongue, culture and religion within the formal education process. Their dismissal highlights the blatant contradiction within the Teachers Association, which the on one hand appears to provide education at the service of the Mapuche people, yet on the other hand demonstrates racist attitudes in their treatment of Mapuche teachers.

We demand that the educational authorities of the IX Region intervene in this conflict and reverse the damage done by reinstating our brother and sister Mapuche school teachers. The decisions made by the Teachers Association are absolutely arbitrary and go completely against the proposals to improve the quality of life and education of the indigenous peoples of Chile .

We demand that the Teachers Association of La Araucania retract the dismissal and immediately reinstate all of the Mapuche teachers, who are members of The Kimeltuchefe Society of Mapuche Teachers.

This is a call to all of the historic authorities of the Mapuche Nation, the communities, parents and guardians of those attending the schools involved in this conflict, Mapuche teachers and professionals and also to Mapuche mayors and councillors. We ask you to be alert and active with regards to this new situation of persecution against Mapuche families and teachers.

HUGO PAINEQUEO HUENCHUCOY
KIMELTUCHEFE SOCIETY DIRECTOR

NILSA RAIN HUENTEMILLA
PUBLIC RELATIONS

Translated by James Bamford