Relações interétnicas, processos de construção da identidade e estratégias etnopolíticas mapuches no Departamento Los Lagos, Neuquén, Argentina

Abstract

This research aims at analizing the in-dentity ethnic construction process within familieswith Mapuche ancestors in Villa la Angostura (LosLagos Department) in the province of Neuquénin relation to the policies carried out by the Na-tional and Provincial States. For this, we proposeas a working hypothesis different national scenariosfrom which during the 20th century, the “ethnic”identity caused a prejudice to the situation of thesedomestic groups in terms of their right to the land.For this we analyze the role played by the stateinstitutions in charge of regulating this right. Laterwe wonder about the social movilization processwhich arose in 2003 focused on the economic con-text which envolves the city. In that field we studythe different state policies with an aim to promotingthis kind of claim and we account for their inciden-ce when visualizing the protest and revaluation ofthe Mapuche identity.