Prácticas cotidianas de ancestralización de un territorio indígena: el caso de la comunidad pewenche de Quinquén

Abstract

This article explores the ancestral dimension of the life in the pewenche community of Quinquen, in Southern Chile. It examines different social practices, in order to identify the plurality of form used by the community's inhabitants to ancestral-ize their territory. This process of ancestralization underlies various aspects of life in Quinquen and has become notable or even visible, both to the community and to outsiders. It is postulated that ancestralization of territory is a continuous process that is linked to the lifestyles of the families that compose the community, through links that keep the continuity of social relationships across time and space. The purpose of this is to contribute to the recognition of an indigenous geography embedded in the everyday life. Greater consideration of these aspects could contribute to a critical reflection on what it means to live in an indigenous community. But more importantly, it could contribute to understanding what it means to be pewenche today. The article is organized into three sections: the first analyzes the field of power relations, the second social structure, and the third strategies of territorial control.