Constructing identities in Santa Cruz (Argentina): Pioneer hegemony, native Tehuelches and chilean/ chilote migrants

RODRIGUEZ, MARIELA EVA

Washington, D.C., Estados Unidos

Simposio; GRAPHSY 2005: Graduate Hispanic & Portuguese Symposium; 2005

Georgetown University.

In the Province of Santa Cruz (Argentina), historical hegemonic narratives only include in the "pioneer" category the European migrants from the late 19th Century, while excluding indigenous people, minimizing other migrants (Chileans as well as Argentines), and silencing the Chilote labor force, original from Chiloé Island (Chile). While native Mapuches are seen as Chileans (although they are from both countries), native Tehuelches are considered Argentineans, who, obligated to preserve biological and cultural "purity" are discouraged from affirming themselves as political activists. On the other hand, Chilean migrants and their offspring hide their origin to assimilate as Argentines, becoming fanatical nationalists. Focusing on the intersection of racism, class relationships, and nationalism/regionalism, I will analyze the prejudices and stereotypes involved in the historical process of identity construction in Southern Patagonia. In particular, I will focus on the changes following the economic and political crises of 2001, which propelled the governor of this marginal province to the presidency. I will apply an inter-disciplinary theoretical-methodological approach informed by my training in anthropology, literature, cultural studies and discourse analysis, to a set of dissimilar sources (oral, visual, written) collected during fieldwork in Santa Cruz and in the XII Región Chilena (Magellan Region), Chile.