Chile's Clash of Memories: Mapuche Voices vs State Narratives

A new study digs into how the Chilean government's version of history clashes with what the Mapuche people remember about violence and state actions from 2008 to 2025. The focus is on two regions: Biobío and La Araucanía, where these memory wars play out the hardest.

The research uses a decolonial lens to look at how state violence works not just as one-time events, but as something deeper. It shapes how communities live, how families connect, and how people relate to each other. The study looked at 108 news stories from big newspapers like La Tercera and El Mercurio. It also included 45 personal life stories and 6 group discussions with 95 Mapuche participants.

Three main points of conflict came up. First, the media and state often paint the Mapuche as an internal threat, which helps justify crackdowns. Second, there is strong support for putting more military presence in the area, which the Mapuche experience as ongoing colonial control. Third, when Mapuche people are killed, the stories often blame the victims and ignore any role the state might have.

The study finds that official memory works like a tool of power. It pushes aside Mapuche voices and makes their experiences seem less important. But the memories kept alive by Mapuche communities act as a form of resistance. They challenge the official story and demand recognition.

The researchers say it is time to rethink how countries deal with past wrongs. Transitional justice efforts need to listen to indigenous memories, not just state records. The media also needs to stop spreading stories that make state violence seem normal or necessary.