Colonialism, Politics and Community: from the First Mapuche National Congress to the National Condederation of Mapuche Regional Associations (Gulumapu, 1968-1970)

Abstract

This article analyzes Mapuche political participation during the last years of the government of Eduardo Frei Montalva (1968-1970). It describes, first of all, the fundamental factors of the so-called indigenous problem. Secondly, it characterizes the trajectory of the Mapuche movement during the sixties (1961-1968). Thirdly, it examines how the debates on a new indigenous law and the restitution of usurped lands limited the discussion framework of a programmatic project. The hypothesis that guides this article maintains that towards the end of the sixties a sector of the Mapuche leadership defined a clear policy towards the Chilean State, specifying the structural characteristics of colonialism and, proposing clear alternatives to the policy of division of the communities.