The Mapuche Indians of Chile

The Mapuche Indians, although continually under great pressure from Chilean social forces, have managed to retain significant traditional characteristics despite centuries of contact and conquest. In this vivid, consciousness-raising account, the author details the conflict between the forces for change and those for stability. Within the framework of this struggle, the complex relations between the Mapuche and the Chileans, and the adaptation of the Mapuche to their contemporary economic, political, and social environment are emphasized.