Mapuçe kimlik yaratım süreci olarak ayinler: Nguillatun ayini ve melez dinamikler
Abstract
This investigation focuses on the mestizo dynamics of a Mapuche religious ceremony, the nguillatun. Although the nguillatun seems to be affected in the historical process of colonization by the missionary movements and integrative activities of the national culture, today it remains as one of the most important social and religious practices in Mapuche society. While the effects of Christianity and modern culture can be observed in different ways depending on the region or territory, it does not seem legitimate to talk about a homogeneous format of cultural and religious mestizaje. The aim of the investigation was to explain the multifaceted relationships and interactions between the mestizo dynamics in the nguillatun context, dynamics that were found in different communities and the identity interpretation processes of the communities´ members. The methodological strategy of the research is multiple case study under which two participant observations were realized. According to research, the regional cultural differences of Mapuche society determines the impossibility to talk about a homogeneous Mapuche identity. The identity recreating process in the nguillatun context becomes even more complex by adding the singularity of the individual interpretation processes to the uniqueness of each ritual's mestizaje process. At this point, the search for a prototype of cultural or religious mestizaje and a homogeneous Mapuche identity seems unfounded.