The experts analysed different historical contexts and intercultural dynamics, from the revitalisation and recognition of the Māori language, to the historical, social and political development regarding the Mapuche People in Chile.

Last week, the Universidad de La Frontera (UFRO) celebrated its International Week and one of the activities was a talk about ‘Interculturality: local and international experiences’ with the participation of Mihaere Emery from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa University in New Zealand and the academic Miguel Melín Pehuen of the Institute for Indigenous and Intercultural Studies (IEII) of UFRO in Chile.

During the conversation, which was organised by the International Affairs Office and the Institute for Indigenous and Intercultural Studies at UFRO, the experts analysed the historical contexts and intercultural dynamics, from the Māori revitalisation and the recognition of their language, to the historical, social and political relations between the Chilean state and the Mapuche People.

Dr. Guillermo Williamson Castro, an academic of the UFRO Department of Education, was in charge of the coordination of the activity. He commented: “Within the fields of Rural Education and Intercultural Education, we received the delegation from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa University in New Zealand, with the aim of establishing conversations between the different cultures around the world. Our idea is that the Mapuche People learn from the Māori People and vice versa.”

“We are working on an agreement for next year that will allow student and academic exchange, as well as different collaborations in the fields of graduate studies, continuous education, research and publications,” Dr. Williamson added.

THE SPEAKERS

According to Mihaere Emery of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa University in New Zealand, the delegation is here to exchange knowledge. “It has been a very interesting experience, and we have been able to share our Māori culture and knowledge. It is very positive that this kind of initiative exists, since it is a starting point that allows a rapprochement of cultures.”

Miguel Melín Pehuen pointed out: “The contextualization of the Chile-Mapuche relationship on the basis of the historic development and the occupation of the land is key to understand the interethnic and intercultural relations over time.” In this context, according to him, the visit of the Māori delegation was very important, since “we can learn a lot from them and their relation with the state. There is no other indigenous people that has international treaties, both with the Crown and the state, and they managed to promote their culture with this recognition.”