Diritto Pubblico Comparato ed Europeo

Sommario

1. Introduzione. – 2. Il popolo mapuche. – 3. La lotta contro la colonizzazione. – 4. Politiche diassimilazione e divisione della terra nello Stato cileno. – 5. La fine del regime di Pinochet e la transizione allademocrazia. – 6. La legge indigena 19253 del 1993. – 7. Questioni irrisolte e conflitti per la terra: un approccioculturale. – 8. L’importanza del riconoscimento costituzionale. – 9. Breve sguardo agli altri paesi latino americani.

Abstract

This article gives an overview of the situation of indigenous peoples in Chile from the perspective of their legal recognition. After a short introduction on the definition of indigenous peoples, attention turns to the Mapuche People, the largest group of indigenous people in Chile and the third largest in South America. An historical overview of the Mapuche struggle against colonisation and assimilation is followed by an examination of their situation under the Democratic Regime after the Pinochet dictatorship. A major focus is given to the Indigenous Law enacted in 1993. This law represents an enormous step forward not only for the Mapuche but for all indigenous peoples living in Chile,. Unfortunately the lack of recognition in the constitution (still that introduced by Pinochet) and the ambiguous position of the indigenous law in the hierarchy of the Chilean legal system have jeopardised the rights of the Mapuche to have their land and culture recognised and protected. After considering the possible ways to strengthen indigenous peoples’rights and juridical status in Chile, the article concludes with a short comparison with legal systems in other South American states.