Mapuche Women Cooperatives of Southern Chile.

This project/fund raiser aims to revitalize the Mapuche culture and traditions by rescuing their autochthonous loom and knitting techniques their designs and value of Mapuche loomed fabrics.  For this to occur they have to be economically viable.   Experience has shown us that knitters who participated at the International Arts and Crafts Fair organized by the Universidad de Chile in 2001 have gained a higher sense of worth, they better value their cultural roots and heritage and take pride in what they do and who they are.   At the same time the income obtained from their work has improved their economic future and stimulated their desire to perfect their knitting techniques as well as revive the traditions of the Mapuche people. The ultimate goal of this program is to enable the rescue of old patterns and pass them onto the younger generations this in turn will strengthen their culture and the economic future of the Mapuche families.

Location and characteristics of Collileufu Grande and Nahuel Huapi Island:

Collileufu Grande and Nahuel Huapi Island, Budi Lake, Puerto Saavedra District and Araucania Region.  Collileufu Grande is an Indian reservation located about 5 miles from  Puerto Saavedra.   There are 60 families including adults, grandparents, teenagers and children approximately 360 people total.   The Nahuel Huapi Island community lives on an island located about 3 miles, by boat, from Puerto Dominguez it is comprised of 7 families, approximately 40 people in all.

Cooperatives formed for the conservation of Mapuche traditions and culture through the  manufacturing and commercialization of sheep wool and vegetable tinted loomed fabrics.

Community and characteristics:
Those living around Lake Budi comprise the largest rural population in the area of Puerto Saavedra, they are located near the coast about 450 miles south of Santiago.
As a result of the wars of occupation and later through land occupation and economic displacement these Mapuche groups were exiled from their high yielding lands and relocated to a coastal impoverished area.   The overpopulation of the area has eroded the existing natural resources.   The majority of the Mapuche communities engage in excessive cultivation of low-yielding crops.   A typical plot ranges between 10 to 22 acres yielding crops that barely feed 2 or 3 families.    According to Antonio PanchilloÙ­ a Rucatravo farmer, 13 acres only yields 5 sacks of potatoes, enough for a family's consumption but not enough to sell.    Low yielding wheat, potato and other complimentary crops result in low economic activity for these communities. Therefore their purchasing power and quality of life of these Mapuche communities is significantly diminished, well below the poverty line.
Ù­ Member of one of 3 families that live in Rucatravo.


Definition of community or reservation:
This is a group of families that:
a) Live in a defined geographical location.
b) Share and abide by religious and cultural beliefs that determine their
    religious festivities, rites and coexistence with other members of the
    community.
c) They acknowledge a principal territory as a Lonco where they live
     among their people (relatives) this also makes them identify themselves     through existing family ties.

These communities or reservations date back to 1881 after the defeat of
the Mapuche people and specifically with the occupation of Villarica.
By 1883 the Mapuche society had changed internally and in their relationship
with the Chilean State and society.  Territorial reduction was obvious and
central to the change.   Mapuches were submitted to accept the constraints
and rigors of civilization.  This proud and free semi-nomadic people were given
small land plots, were locked up in their reservations and were forced to
become farmers.
The beneficiaries of this program would be:
18 knitters/loomers from Taňi Witran Cooperative from Collileufu.
6 Knitters/loomers fro Rňantu Leufu Cooperative from Nahuel Huapi Island.

Total: 24 families from Lake Budi (18 families from Collileufu Grande and 6 families from Nahuel Huapi Island) Mapuche Women Cooperatives of Southern Chile.

With the funds collected we intend to:

1) Organize quarterly classes of 1 week each by a textile designer for
members of each cooperative. Initially an assessment of how much has been
lost or retained of their traditional techniques will made. These knitting
techniques have traditionally been passed from mother to daughter as the
work is typically done at home. Methodology will be done collectively with
mutual participation. If more detailed information regarding ancestral
traditions were necessary we will visit older women in the community to
gather it.
2) A classification of the flora used for dying wool will be made taking
special care not to destroy indigenous plants. Natural dying will be done to
broaden and consolidate this practice. Procedures such as passing wool
through ashes and rust to obtain a grey color and uses of several substances
to fix the colors will be used.

José Bengoa. XX Century History of the Mapuche People
Ediciones Sur, Santiago-Chile, 1985

3) Old and traditional designs in wool and natural vegetable fiber will be
used as well as encouraging new designs and the creativity of the women
knitters. We will also implement quality control before the products are
sent to market.
4) We will encourage the participation of younger women by inviting them to
the workshops so as to have them become aware of their heritage and hopefully see themselves as the transmitters of knowledge of great cultural significance,
including an economic benefit for Mapuches.
5) We will have monthly reunions centered on the values that form a base for
work in the community, reinforcing the cooperative and preparing them to
participate in eventual Exhibitions of their work. (i.e. Arts and Crafts
Fairs etc.) It is important that the knitters feel part of a people that values their
traditions and be assured some economic gain as this is related to community life and wellbeing. We will create areas where they can meet to explore cultural background aiming to give them a sense of identity rooted in the past which is the inspiration for their unique designs. We will have historical readings and information of the Mapuche culture discussed around an open fire.
6) We will train them in commercial production and also create a fund to purchase wool at reasonable prices or the alternative of purchasing a significant amount of sheep.
7) The coordinator of the project will try to have members from both cooperatives  participate in Arts and Crafts Fairs, meetings with other artisans, and international sales.

Timeline:
It is estimated this project will take approximately 2 years.
A textile designer will travel from Santiago every 3 months for one week to
work with the members of each cooperative. The coordinator of the project
will visit them every month for 3 days and will oversee the daily working
conditions and techniques. She will also take to them the proceeds from
the sales of the products. In the first stage information will be gathered regarding knitting, looms and natural dying techniques used in both cooperatives. (These communities are not close one to the other and vegetation may be different.)
At the same time a classification of the flora used in dying will be made. Basic
designs and quality control will be used. The aim is to preserve the authenticity
of the knitting and improve the quality of the finished product. During this first
stage we will work at strengthening the cooperative and its members as a cohesive group defined by their common traditions.

The second stage will focus on rescuing/learning fine loom weaving on nail looms.   In depth study and manufacturing of Mapuche design textiles. At the same time delegation of responsibilities to new coordinators from the members of cooperatives will start.  They will have been trained in the previous stage.  During this stage also the commercial production and sales will be taught. This wil probably be the slowest part of the program.   Only 9 of the 18 members of the Taňi Witran Cooperative know how to read and write, 5 read with difficulty and the rest don't know how to read or write.
In the Raňintu Leufu cooperative 3 read and write and the rest don't.

In conclusion the success of this program depends primarily in the effective fund raising achieved by your generous donations for the betterment of these Mapuches families.  The indigenous peoples of South America and of all the world are the forgotten ones of previous and our generation.   In assuming our part by helping them be successful we all benefit and your help to that end is extremely valuable.  

Any and all donations to this cause are gratefully accepted.

Thank you.