CAFOD partner wins award in Chile

Elisa Avendano Curaqueo [CAFOD]

CAFOD partner Elisa Avendaño Curaqueo has won a major award in recognition of her tireless dedication to teaching indigenous Mapuche people now living in urban areas about their culture and heritage to strengthen their sense of identity and dignity as a people.

The award, given by CONADI (the National Corporation for Indigenous Development), praises her work teaching Mapuche children, young people and adults who now live in the towns and cities of Chile.

Elisa, who founded CAFOD partner group Mapuche Ñi Kimvn, teaches Mapuche culture, which helps strengthen the population's sense of identity and dignity in a country that, historically, strongly discriminated against indigenous people.

Clare Dixon, CAFOD regional programme manager for Latin America, says: “For 30 years CAFOD has been proud to support the Mapuche people in their efforts to preserve their culture, their lands and their livelihoods.

"Even today they have the lowest living standards and the worst life expectancy in Chile.

“During the military dictatorship and now in the brighter days of democracy, the Mapuche people continue to be the target of great discrimination.

"Elisa's award is an important step forward in securing the true emancipation and recognition of the Mapuche people and their rights and dignity as full citizens of Chile.”

The Mapuche people continue to suffer discrimination and injustice, and recently there have been reports from CAFOD partners of Mapuche leaders being unjustly imprisoned by the state using controversial anti-terrorist laws.

International Day of the Indigenous Woman

The award was presented at a ceremony attended by government officials on September 5, a date officially recognised in Chile as the International Day of the Indigenous Woman.

The day is chosen in remembrance of Bartolina Sisa, a courageous Aymara woman who was murdered by the Spanish colonists in the 18th century for defending the rights of the Aymara and Quechua peoples.

It commemorates all those women who speak out against the injustices and atrocities committed against the indigenous population - women such as Elisa.

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