At the beginning of 1994, the Universidad de la Frontera (UFRO) agreed to set up an Indigenous Studies Institute, to be based in Temuco, in the southern Araucania region, which has the highest proportion of indigenous population in Chile.

WHAT IS THE INSTITUTE OF INDIGENOUS STUDIES?

The Institute is an interdisciplinary body created by an agreement between the Chilean Commission for Human Rights and the UFRO with the aim of promoting the development of research and teaching regarding the past, present and future of Chile's indigenous peoples.

The Institute is formed by a small group of indigenous and non-indigenous professionals selected by the University for their specialization and experience in areas of relevance to their development.

Its fundamental objectives include contributing to a better awareness and valuation of these peoples in national society, as well as helping to confront problems, which affect them, specially marginality and poverty, to the recognition of their rights and the promotion of their participation in national life in general and in the resolution of their own affairs.

ACTIVITIES WHICH THE INSTITUTE IS DEVELOPING

The Institute has defined the following activities as central to its development:

Research in areas including culture (bilingual intercultural education), history and legislation and indigenous development.

Professionals from the Institute are also giving classes on all these subjects in different courses at the University (which has 500 indigenous students).

The Institute has a library containing around 4.000 publications, mainly about Mapuche culture and society which offers services to the University and indigenous communities. The library is being expanded to include other indigenous peoples in Chile and America.

The Institute is also publishing a magazine (PENTUKUN) in which features research, opinions and reports by investigators and indigenous representatives, as well as articles related to indigenous people.

It is also holding annually conferences and seminars on these subjects giving opportunities to speak to professionals and indigenous specialists (1994 annual conference was on the issue of "Land, Territory and Development". Speakers from Chile and abroad were invited).

The Institute has also developed a semestral and summer courses to train non-university indigenous leaders, repeating with them the work carried out within the University.

LINKS WITH THE COMMUNITY

The Institute considers the participation of the regional community, and in particular of indigenous communities, Of great importance in directing its areas of work.

For this reason, the Institute has an Advisory Council in which the Chilean Commission of Human Rights, the National Corporation of Indigenous Development and the Ministry of Education take part. The Council also include representatives of indigenous organizations and Mapuche students of the University.

The aim of the Council is to maintain continuous contact with the community and to respond effectively to its concerns.

PERSPECTIVES FOR FUTURE WORK

As a result of its location, the Institute has given priority in studies of the Mapuche people, the largest indigenous group in Chile with a population of one million. Our aim, however, is to expand progressively, to include in the future, the interests an problems of other indigenous peoples in Chile (Aymara, Rapa Nui) and in America.

The Institute also aims to cover others areas not yet within its ambit, including health, archaeology and material heritage of indigenous peoples, environment, etc..

HOW YOU CAN CONTACT THE INSTITUTE

If you are interested in the Institute's activities, please contact:

INSTITUTO DE ESTUDIOS INDIGENAS
UNIVERSIDAD DE LA FRONTERA
Casilla 54-D, TEMUCO, CHILE.
PHONE/FAX 56 45 252648. E-MAIL: iei@werken.ufro.cl.