Hi everyone:
Had an incredible weekend. Spent it in Curarrehue, a Mapuche community in Araucanía and the farthest south I have been on Earth. Amazing people. So warm and kind and funny! They also have bannock!!! It’s exactly the same as my community makes it but they cook it under the ash. They had a press conference for my visit on Saturday for local and Mapuche media. Rodrigo Ardiles, my fantastic host, will send clips when he has them.
My wonderful host, Rodrigo, second from the right, and friends
They also took me to this incredible rustic hot spring by a river in a mountain valley last night. Stars are amazing and I feel completely rejuvenated.
Will be moving from Villarica to Temuco today. Will be there until Thursday. They have set up a viewing station for me at the museum where I’ll be watching work for most of the week and will have access to email.
Here I am in Temuco
But first I’ll be speaking at the university in Temuco to an audio-visual class of Mapuche students!
On Thursday we travel to Lago Buli to another large Mapuche community (but also home to many Rapa Nui, the Indigenous people of Easter Island). Then on to Valparaiso which is the cultural capital of Chile where I’ll be meeting with the Chilean minister of culture and more Mapuche arts orgs. And also be doing an interview with CNN South America!
Calling students to my presentation at the University
We will spend the day in Santiago on Sunday only before I leave for home at night.
Also, get this, Sarah Sense lives in Santiago now!?!?! I was like wtf when she sent me a FB message. Shes coming to see me in Valparaiso this weekend as is a rep from our Embassy.
Everyone I’ve met has been so wonderful. They are beyond hospitable and are incredibly keen to have their work shown to an international audience at imagineNATIVE. I’m so happy we’re doing this spotlight.
Love yous.
Jase.
Sent from my iPhone
Mapuche ruka not unlike the longhouse
A Mapuche museum in an old flour mill on the way to Lago Budi
Mapuche graffiti
'Hola perrito!' 'Hola Jasito!'
you rock the world, my friend!!!!!
Me gusta mucho!
JAson!!! Cool pictures man!!! Best´s of luck´s man!!!!
Jason:
As you sholuld know, Mapuche means “People of the land” or “Land’s people”. I’m grew up in the south of Argentina and Chile and shared with Mapuche People nearly my entire life. Now I live in Switzerland and I miss them and their wisdom.
Please, return if you have the oportunity because they have a lot to teach.
I wish you the best,
Araceli.-