The Eternity of Tomorrow: Police violence against Mapuche youth. (2019-In progress) "Nighttime is not the same anymore, sometimes is longer...I never know when the police could come..." F.C (13)
The Mapuche are the largest indigenous community in Chile. They are concentrated in the south of the country, mostly in the Araucanía region which is the poorest region in Chile with a population of 957.224 which 17,2% lives below the poverty level. For almost a century they have claimed their right to recover ancestral lands and natural resources that have been affected by the negative impact of the forest industry and state business. In the absence of a responsive government that allows the restitution of the land, the level of the conflict in the Araucanía region increased. The Mapuche adopted measures of pressure like the squatting of the lands and properties demanded. This claiming right process and the increase of clashes generated a negative reaction from the government that resulted in the implementation of a policy of judicial persecution and criminalization of collective action, harassment and persecution of leaders, and the militarization of these ancestral territories. The violence against the Mapuche has serious and specific consequences on children and teenagers, derived from repression, criminalization, raids, interrogations, and other actions carried out by members of the special operation forces. Different NGO's and the national institute of human rights counted 133 cases that include several police violence against Mapuche youth in the last 5 years, while many other cases has not been reported. During the same years 2.241 bullets have been fired by the police in the region. Those cases are rarely reported through traditional media, that brings as a consequence misinformation, letting the Chilean population knowing very little about the Mapuche conflict and their demands. This project focus on the experience suffered by the Mapuche youth documenting testimonies of repression, psychological and physical violence.
This project was made possible with the support of the Magnum foundation.
F. H. (21) Lives in a recovered land. He and his family has suffered teasing and psychological violence from the police. Despite not having lived an episode of severe physical police violence he believes that at some point it will happen. Collipulli, Araucanía. July 20th, 2019.
A tree stands alone in a field near Collipulli, Araucania region. This area has been labeled as “red zone” due to the ongoing land conflict between the state, landowners and Mapuche communities. April 18th, 2019. Chile.
A man cuts a piece of firewood after a traditional ceremony to start the recovery of a territory. A man cuts a piece of firewood after a traditional ceremony to begin the recovery of a territory. This rite is called Ngillatun and works as a connection with the spiritual world to ask for well-being, strengthen the union of the community or thank the benefits received. Aug,7th,2019. Curaco, Araucanía region, Chile.
Israel Hernandez Huentecol holding a tear gas can used by riot police and found near his home. Israel’s brother , Brandon, was shot by the police and he has been threatened by members of the police special forces. Curaco, Araucanía Region. Chile. 22nd, July,2019.
Belén Curamil(19) daughter of Alberto Curamil, Mapuche political prisoner holding a Kultrun, a Mapuche traditional musical instrument. Curacautín, Araucanía region, Chile. March 23rd, 2019
The Araucaria is the fundamental tree in the religious and economic life of the Mapuche-Pewenche people. Almost all the forests of this species are in Wallmapu called today Araucanía. the seed of the araucaria has been used for centuries to make flour with which tortillas can be prepared, in addition to fermented drinks. Conguillio, Araucanía region. Chile. Aug.9th, 2019.
Mapuche performs the rite called Ngillatun and works as a connection with the spiritual world to ask for well-being, strengthen the union of the community or thank the benefits received. Araucanía region, Chile.2019
V.C.(12) Her father and brothers were falsely accused of murder and his house was violently raided by the police. Ercilla, Araucanía. Chile. April, 14th,2019.
A forest fire near Bio Bio Region. Several forest company uses to burn their forest in order to renew their production, often they goes out of control causing huge impact in the environment and nearest towns, most of them Mapuche communities. January 26th, 2017. Chile.
V.C.(12) Her father and brothers were falsely accused of murder and his house was violently raided by the police. Ercilla, Araucanía. Chile. April, 14th,2019.
The house of Fabiola Antiqueo(20) she was shot in her left eye with a tear gas can fired with a shotgun by members of riot police on May 12th, 2017. As a result of the impact she lost her left eye. Carahue, Araucanía region. Chile.20th, March,2019.
F.C.(6) his father and brothers were falsely accused of murder and his house was raided by police. Ercilla, Araucanía, Chile. April, 14th 2019.
A road crosses forests of pine, eucalyptus (not native species, planted by forest industry) and other species near Peleco, Araucanía region.Chile. July 21st.2019.
T. H. (9) has seen his father been imprisoned by the police several times. Collipulli, Aracaunia. Chile. April, 9th.2019.
Smoke from a bonfire set for a traditional ceremony to try to recover a territory taken by the non native forest company “Mininco”. This rite is called Ngillatun and works as a connection with the spiritual world to ask for well-being, strengthen the union of the community or thank the benefits received. Collipulli, Pine forest area. October 4th 2019.
Riot police stands guard in a street during a protest in Santiago, Chile. 2019. For the Mapuche community the National police institution (Carabineros) represents the physical action of repression ordered by agents of the state with political and economic interests. For decades, the institution has been questioned for its excessive use force and power abuse against civilians and Mapuche communities.
Brandon Hernandez Huentecol was shot in the back while immobilized by sergeant Christian Rivera who was sentenced to 3 years probation. Brandon still has over 80 lead bullets in his body. (He was impacted with more than 130) Curaco, Araucanía region. Chile. April 18th, 2019.
Trees cut down and piled up by a private forestry company near Queule, Araucania region. Forest company has been exploiting the Mapuche land since many decades, as a result, many of the originary plant and wildlife of the region is now at danger. March, 23rd,2019. Queule, Araucanía region, Chile.
S.T (14) shot by the police during a raid at his home in Pidima, Araucanía, Since April 20, 2017 Silvestre lives with five bullets in his left leg, one of which is partially embedded in the kneecap and another dangerously close to the femoral artery. Temucuicui, Araucanía region.Chile. January 2nd, 2019.
A chicken hangs in a wall of the house of Fabiola Antiqueo(20). She was shot in her left eye with a tear gas can fired with a shotgun by members of riot police on May 12th, 2017. As a result of the impact she lost her left eye. Carahue, Araucanía region. Chile.2oth, March,2019.
Moisés Curamil(15) son of Alberto Curamil, Mapuche political prisoner and 2019 Goldman environmental prize, which he received in jail. Here, Moisés is fitting a traditional poncho or manta, Mapuche traditional warm clothing. Curacautín, Araucanía region, Chile. Aug. 11th, 2019
Fabiola Antiqueo(20) was shot in her left eye with a tear gas can fired with a shotgun by members of riot police on May 12th, 2017. As a result of the impact she lost her left eye. Carahue, Araucanía region. Chile. March 20th. 2019.
Teresa Marín holds a school photograph of her son Camilo Catrillanca(24) killed by chilean police special forces in November, 14th, 2018. in Araucanía region, Chile. Mr. Catrillanca was a well known leader in the Mapuche community, grandson of Lonko (Mapuche leader) Juan Catrillanca. He was a leader of the student movement in the area he lived and participated in acts of recoveries of ancestral territories. Mr. Catrillanca had a six-year-old daughter and by the moment of his murder her partner was pregnant with their second child. Mr. Catrillanca was traveling with a minor in a tractor when the police special forces entered the territory firing blasts of bullets and falsely accused Mr. Catrillanca of a car robbery. The bullet fired by Sergeant Carlos Alarcón hit him in the head from behind and caused his death. Temucuicui, Araucanía region. Chile, April 19th. 2019.
Israel Hernandez Huentecol. (15) His brother was shot by the police and he has been threatened by members of the police special forces. Curaco, Araucanía Region. April 5th, 2019
F.T.(7) His brother was shot in the leg during a raid at their home. Everytime cops are around or near his home his mother hides him and his sister in the bathroom. Temucuicui, Araucanía region. Chile. April 7th, 2019.