After the decision to back down with the declaration of the Mapuche Sacred Site to the Lanin volcanothe Confederacy of that community issued a harsh statement in which declared itself in a “state of alert and mobilization”” and assured that he will defend the measure that only lasted 24 hours and also the rights of the original peoples. “From there we no longer go back”, they promised.
The organization launched strong questions to the minister Juan Cabandie, on whom the National Parks Administration depends. “We regret the political fragility of the national government and in particular the Minister of the Environment, Juan Cabandié, incapable of sustaining a political decision for 24 hours”he expressed.
And they expanded: “The little credibility and courage of his administration pushed back such an important decision for Mapuche identity and worldview such as the declaration of a Sacred Site that protects a space as fragile and punished as our Pijan Mawiza, Volcan Lanín”.
Declaration 484 of the National Parks Administration, which recognizes to the Lanín volcano “Pijan Mawiza” as a Sacred Natural Site of the Mapuche People, generated strong controversy. The move caused a fierce protest in Neuquénwhich considered that the provision violated provincial autonomy and had promised start legal action.
With the controversy unleashed, the Government backed down. The National Parks Administration announced this Friday the call for a dialogue table with representatives of the province and native communities. “National Parks will leave the current resolution without effect, and will work together on a new one that contemplates the federal spirit”, explained the agency.
The Mapuche Confederation of Neuquén rejected the setback, considered “virulent” reaction of the governor Omar Gutierrezand supported the original declaration, which had been signed by the head of the National Parks Administration, Lautaro Eduardo Erratchu. They highlighted to the management the Lanin National Park, in whose orbit the volcano is located, with those who articulate policies, they said, “for more than two decades”, as “an example of intercultural coexistence”.
The Mapuche Confederation is made up of the original authorities of the communities Logko, Pijan Kuse, werken, cona. It is also made up of the members of the Zonal Council Xawvnko of the Confederation. The statement released this Friday is also signed by the Zonal Council wijicethe Area Council Pewenceand the Circle of authorities of the Pijan Mawiza Lavn.
In a message with questions to the Nation and the province of Neuquén, the organization demanded a review of the measure. He considered that the dialogue table convened by National Parks It should “aim to support the recognition of the “Lanín Sacred Site of the Mapuche People”.
As they stated, before the ephemeral official winkthe Sacred Site declaration from the Lanín volcano area was resolved 16 years ago by the authorities of the communities Pijan Kuse, Logko, Gempiñ, pu werken. They also recalled that they carry out a “co-management policy with the Lanín and Nahuel Huapi Parks”, which they seek to strengthen.
“It is urgent that both the Nation and the Province stop using the rights of the Mapuche people as currency and decide to get out of the illegality of not complying with a regulatory and constitutional framework that they are obliged to respect”, pointed out the communities. And they noted: “From there we no longer go back because it is a shame how governments and administrations succeed one another and continue to accumulate debts with the Mapuche people.”.
The entity of the original organization repudiated, in turn, the “media exposure” of the issue, and spoke of “the constant manipulation of information to feed racial hatred” towards his culture. In addition, they accused certain sectors of trying to deny their rights.
In this sense, the Mapuche Confederation stated that the declaration of the Mapuche Sacred Site of the Lanín volcano, which they call Pijan Mawiza“does not close doors”, but instead stressed that “new doors” are opening. “Landscaping, scientific, and tourist all the mapuche cosmogonic potential is added which is unknown to this day. Will anyone dare to oppose this valuation when it is part of the region’s identity?
the confederation exhorted Governor Omar Gutiérrez “to try to know the proposal of Lanín Sacred Site for the Mapuche People”. And he asked her to be encouraged “to get involved in the organization and projection of an intercultural administration” of the property. “Not only is it a symbol of the province, but it also represents a regulating element of life, of which we are all part,” added the entity.