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Title
Entrevista con Jorge Alvárez
Contributor
Campbell, Amelia
Malat del Valle, Gabriel
Villarreal, Edric
Martín-Cabrera, Luis, 1972-
Alvárez, Jorge
University of California, San Diego
Date Created and/or Issued
November 14, 2016
Contributing Institution
UC San Diego, The UC San Diego Library
Collection
Transandean Lithium Project: Coyo (Chile)
Rights Information
Under copyright
Constraint(s) on Use: This work is protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Use of this work beyond that allowed by "fair use" or any license applied to this work requires written permission of the copyright holder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and any use and distribution of this work rests exclusively with the user and not the UC San Diego Library. Inquiries can be made to the UC San Diego Library program having custody of the work.
Use: This work is available from the UC San Diego Library. This digital copy of the work is intended to support research, teaching, and private study.
Rights Holder and Contact
Alvárez, Jorge
Martín-Cabrera, Luis, 1972-
Description
En esta entrevista Jorge Álvarez, presidente de la comunidad atacameña de Coyo, explica la historia del ayllu de Coyo y del pueblo Lickan Antay. A continuación, pasa a explicar el nombre de la Laguna Tebenquiche, la percepción que tiene la comunidad de este cuerpo de agua y las propiedades curativas que tienen sus aguas. En este contexto, Jorge Álvarez describe los esfuerzos que están haciendo para proteger la laguna del impacto del turismo. Estos esfuerzos han logrado que los flamencos vuelvan a anidar en las orillas de la laguna. Sin embargo, como explica Álvarez, el impacto que tienen las compañías de litio –Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM) y Rockwood Lithium—en el entorno de la comunidad y de la laguna están haciendo que las fuentes de agua se agoten. En la entrevista, Álvarez describe la historia de la instalación de estas mineras y explica por qué firmaron un acuerdo con la minera Rockwood Lithium a pesar de estar en contra de la minería del litio. En la última parte de la entrevista, pasa a describir lo que son los “ojos de agua” en el desierto, cómo se forman, cuánto tardan en crecer y cómo los perciben en la comunidad de Coyo. Después, Jorge Álvarez explica la importancia del volcán Licancabur y del cerro Kimal como protectores de la comunidad. En ese contexto describe su relación con la Pata Hoiry (la madre tierra) y las ceremonias que se realizan para honrarla. Por último, Jorge Álvarez comenta cuáles son los planes de la comunidad para mantener sus fiestas como el Carnaval y volver a un modo de vida ancestral basado en las estructuras transandinas de reciprocidad y trueque. Un ejemplo de este modo de vida sería la “minka”, una forma de organizar el trabajo de manera festiva, colectiva y basada en la reciprocidad. — In this interview Jorge Álvarez, the President of the Atacameño Community of Coyo, explains the history of the ayllu of Coyo and the Lickan Antay people. He further explains the origins of the Tebenquiche Lagoon and the importance of this body of water for the community, including the healing properties of its waters. Within this context, Jorge Álvarez describes the efforts they are making to protect the lagoon from the impacts of tourism. Thanks to these efforts, the flamingos have come back to nest on the shores of the Tebenquiche Lagoon. However, as Álvarez explains, the installation of lithium mining companies – Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM) and Rockwood Lithium—in the community and the lagoon is depleting the sources of water in the area. In the interview Álvarez tells the history of these companies in the region and explains why they signed an agreement with Rockwood lithium despite being against lithium mining. In the last part of the interview, he describes the “eyes of water” in the desert, how they form, how long they take to grow, and how they are perceived in the community. After that, Jorge Álvarez explains the importance of the Licancabur volcano and the Kimal hill as protectors of the community. He further describes his relationship with the Pata Hoiry (mother earth) and the ceremonies they put together to honor her. Finally, Jorge Álvarez elaborates on the plans of her community to preserve celebrations like Carnaval and to return to an ancestral way of life based on the transandean structures of reciprocity and barter. On example of this ancestral way of life will be the “minka”, a festive way of organizing collective and reciprocal labor.
UC San Diego Library, UC San Diego, La Jolla, 92093-0175 (https://library.ucsd.edu/dc/contact)
La comunidad de Coyo fue consultada para la creación de esta colección digital y, por lo tanto, retiene el control de su herencia cultural (lenguajes, prácticas, tecnologías, recursos naturales, territorios e información personal). Para cualquier uso que vaya más allá de la investigación o la enseñanza, busque por favor el permiso y el consentimiento de la comunidad. The Coyo community was consulted in the creation of this collection and they retain control of their Indigenous cultural heritage (languages, knowledge, practices, technologies, natural resources, territories, and personal information). For use beyond research or teaching, please seek permission from and give attribution to the community.
Type
moving image
Identifier
ark:/20775/bb5711764n
Language
Spanish
Subject
Interview
Lagoons
Salt mines and mining
Oral history
Atacameño (Lickan Antay) (Indigenous People, Chile)
Flamingos
Animal life
Coyo (Chile)
Atacama Desert
Alvárez, Jorge
Place
Coyo (Chile)
Atacama Desert

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