Origins of the Discrimination Perceived by Mapuches in Chile Based on an Evaluation of Kimeltuwün

Abstract

Abstract:The aim of this article is to examine the origin of perceived discrimination as it appears in the discourse of Mapuches living in Temuco and Santiago, and how that discourse is related to the evaluation of kimeltuwün (educational knowledge). A qualitative design was used to survey Mapuche emigrants to these two urban centers, where most of them are concentrated. The sample used for the evaluation of educational knowledge was a group of kimches (Mapuche sages who are the holders of educational knowledge) from communities of the Araucania region. Open coding of grounded theory was used in combination with a field analysis to discover the most significant concepts of perceived discrimination and how this relates to Mapuche educational knowledge. The outcome is a set of topics for understanding discrimination against Indigenous people from a conceptual framework revealed in relation to their educational knowledge.