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UNESCO in Chile implements pilot experience of Mapuche linguistic immersion

Within the framework of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2033), the UNESCO Office in Chile, in conjunction with the Bilingual Intercultural Education Program (PEIB) of the Ministry of Education of that country, is rolling out pilot experiences of linguistic, cultural, and pedagogical immersion for 225 traditional Mapuche educators in the regions of BioBío, Araucanía, Los Ríos, and Los Lagos.

14 September 2023

The aim of this initiative is to reinforce the invaluable efforts of traditional educators in teaching the language and culture in educational institutions that offer the subject of Ancestral Indigenous Peoples' Language and Culture. This subject is mandatory in all schools where at least 20% of the student body belongs to indigenous communities.

This experience, which will be conducted through boarding programs called "koneltun", aims to provide a space for knowledge exchange between community elders and the traditional educators of the Mapuche people. In this manner, traditional educators will engage with their peers in a conducive environment to strengthen their linguistic and pedagogical skills.

“These linguistic immersion initiatives are crucial for strengthening languages. Bolstering the invaluable work that traditional educators do in schools is of vital importance, not only for the transmission of the language but also for passing down the knowledge and wisdom inherent to our indigenous communities,” commented Alejandro Vera, UNESCO's education specialist.

Koneltuns are a learning methodology where students and teachers, in this case, native speakers of the Mapuzugun, live together in a suitable space, focusing entirely on the transmission of the language and the distinctive knowledge of the Mapuche culture.

Felino García, head of the Bilingual Intercultural Education Program of the Ministry of Education of Chile, remarked, “This partnership between UNESCO and the Ministry of Education underscores the significance of moving forward with formative actions that can appreciate the cultural, linguistic, and pedagogical practices possessed by traditional educators according to their territory. That's why we've been careful to implement the koneltun in relevant spaces that allow for meaningful and relatable learning experiences.”

Based on the systematic analysis of the experience, the National Institute of the Mapuche Language, Mapuzuguletuaiñ (the executing entity of the project), will propose a model of linguistic, cultural, and pedagogical immersion that can be replicated and sustainable over time. In 2024, plans are underway to conduct similar experiences in the Quechua and Aymara languages.