European Interest in Mapuches Grows
March 22, 2000
Old World Shows Concern Over Chilean Indigenous
Issue
Jorge Calbucura is considered "The"
Mapuche intellectual in Europe. A sociologist and academic
at a Swedish university and creator of the largest Mapuche documentation
center in the Old World, he here analyzes the impact the Chilean indigenous
issue is having in Europe
Question: To what extent is (European) solidarity
with Mapuches "in fashion"?
Jorge Calbucura (JC): Europe is a tremendously fragmented continent, full
of cultural, ethical and linguistic differences. Because of this,
Europeans tend to see the rest of the world from the same perspective of
diversity. And they value these differences a lot. ... I'd say their
concern isn't a "fashion," as it's an issue being analyzed with growing
interest by more and more people.
Q: In Mexico, Europeans arrived in the Chiapas area on a sort of "revolutionary
tour" in solidarity with the Zapatistas (an indigenous Mayan insurgent
force). Does this foreign interference help the indigenous cause
or is it counter-productive?
JC: Of course there are some groups in Europe that seem to see the
indigenous matter as a "crusade" they must take part in. However, more
and more there are better prepared indigenous people who know very well
what to say and how to say it. But there are undeniably certain conflicts
between indigenous people and people from other parts of the world who
want to help them. ...
Q: The Question is, what reason could a Scandinavian have to take
interest, for example, in the takeover of agricultural lands in Lumaco
(southern Chile).
JC: And it's a reasonable Question here in Chile, but not so much
in Europe. One shouldn't forget that Old World intellectualism had
its attention on Latin America for many years, especially on political
projects that were followed in this part of the world. Chile has
continued to be a very analyzed and followed example. In some way this
old political interest has been passed on to the Mapuche theme. The
truth is that in Europe it's uncommon to see situations of injustice such
as the Chilean indigenous people are facing. Of course there are
huge catastrophes like Kosovo, but an indigenous fight against a hydroelectric
dam, takeovers of ancestral lands and a military response by the government
have a very big impact in Europe.
It's strange, because it seems there's a human dimension to the conflict
that isn't perceived in Chile, but has profound repercussions there (in
Europe).
Q: When we speak of a concern over Chilean indigenous issues in Europe,
are we talking about an intellectual elite or a more or less widespread
public interest?
JC: There's a mixture There's a political and intellectual elite,
which heads the concern, but this has meant the issue has expanded more
and more into other sectors.
Q: Has the indigenous matter been expressed mainly through European
environmental movements...?
JC: Green parties have been very important. But so have feminist
groups and left-wing political groups, which have helped a lot. (...)
Q: What Mapuche issues are Europeans most interested in?
JC: (...) For example, just in my charge, I have five doctoral theses
related to Mapuche culture. And, at the national level, I know that
in Sweden there are at least 20 universities that are tightly linked with
studies of indigenous Chileans. This multiplied throughout European
countries gives an indication of how the Mapuches are an important focus,
at least at the academic level.
Q: Has interest also increased as regards giving money to Mapuche
organizations?
JC: Really what is given isn't cash but financing for different development
projects to be carried out within Mapuche communities. In this way, in
Europe there are a lot of "cast off economy," or second-hand items that
can be used in various indigenous projects. (...)
Q: In which countries are Mapuche groups most powerful?
JC: In general, where there are the most important groups of exiled
Chileans: Sweden, France and England. There are also important
support groups in Canada.
Q: Are all these run by Mapuches or are some in European hands?
JC: Mapuches, Chileans and Europeans. In this order, these
are the people who run them.
Q: How are these groups coordinated? Is there some central
organization?
JC: No. There isn't any high-level coordination, and even less
a central entity. It's very similar to what happens with Mapuche
organizations in Chile, which don't have a central decision-making body.
Q: Who are the Mapuche living in Europe? What do they do?
JC: The majority are professionals. ... In France there are some
academics. And there are also some artists, especially in theater
and literature.
Q: Who is the most famous Mapuche in Europe?
JC: Without a doubt, Marcelo Salas. In fact, his fighting and fierce
characteristics on the football pitch have been linked many times to his
Mapuche ancestry. (...)
Q: How do European want the Chilean government to tackle the indigenous
problem?
JC: (...) The most urgent demand is that the Chilean State ends its repressive
policies towards the Mapuche. This is fundamental for Europeans.
Then there's the matter of the demands made by indigenous organizations
- how to tackle them and create speedy solutions.
Source: Chile Information
Project
"Santiago Times"
Political, Environment, Human Rights, Economic News
Proyecto de Documentación Ñuke
Mapu
URL:http://www.soc.uu.se/mapuche