Healing Systems of the Mapuche People in Chile

Abstract

This chapter describes some aspects of indigenous healing among the Mapuche people of Chile; and refers to tensions existing between the psychological thinking derived from European culture and ways of (psychological) thinking that underpin healing approaches through the figure of the Shaman in Mapuche culture. The author, an anthropologist who works in the health field, then goes on to propose that the overall Mapuche healing system is spiritual and religious but essentially grounded in a social arena. The author’s second chapter in part D of this book argues for a need to move beyond these categories to a more holistic social-spiritual approach with collaboration between (Western) psychiatry and psychological healing.