Indigenous Focus: Santiago to host congress on indigenous languages

Several weeks ago, we highlighted the importance of protecting indigenous languages in Chile and nationwide efforts by government and indigenous organizations alike to promote their use and, at times, revitalization.  Even just a brief look at data on indigenous languages in Chile reveals that these efforts are much needed.

Rapa Nui language program. Photo: Gobierno de Chile.

According to results from the 2009 CASEN (Caracterización Socioeconómica Nacional or National Socioeconomic Situation) survey carried out by the Ministerio de Desarrollo Social (Ministry of Social Development), over 75 percent of the indigenous population in Chile cannot speak or understand their indigenous language. Results from that same survey in 2006 show that retention varies greatly from one indigenous people to another. For example, 81.3 percent of Rapa Nui people and 74.4 percent of Quechua people speak or understand their native language, while for both the Kawésqar and Yagan, less than 1 percent of the population does.  Between these extremes are the Mapuche people at 22.8 percent and the Aymara people at 27.4 percent.

Because of the importance of language in maintaining collective culture and identity, indigenous language rights are part of international legal protections for indigenous peoples.  ILO Convention 169, which Chile ratified in 2008, recognizes the aspirations of indigenous peoples to maintain and develop their own languages and establishes a general obligation to preserve and promote the development and practice of indigenous languages. Similarly, another important international document, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, recognizes the right of indigenous peoples to revitalize, use, develop and pass their languages on to future generations.

The question facing indigenous peoples in Chile now is how to turn these rights into a reality and use these legal

Photo: Red EIB

tools — among other strategies—in order to increase the use of indigenous languages.  That is one question that will be at the heart of a two-day event open to the public that is taking place in Santiago this Thursday and Friday, Nov. 17 and 18. The Red por los Derechos Educativos y Lingüísticos de los Pueblos Indígenas de Chile (RedEIB—Network for Education and Linguistic Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Chile), with the support of a number of other organizations, will host the Second Congress on Indigenous Languages in Chile at the Universidad de Santiago de Chile.

While the Congress on Indigenous Languages will examine many issues that surround indigenous language use and retention in the country, legal protections related to language use are a central part of the work the organization does. In fact, the RedEIB has worked for months on drafting legislation related to indigenous language rights in Chile. The draft legislation in its current form not only highlights the importance of indigenous languages for maintaining the culture, identity and history of indigenous peoples in Chile, but it establishes a number of protections to ensure that indigenous peoples could actually use their language and make it an integral part of their daily lives.  Although the proposed law has yet to be submitted to Congress for consideration, it represents a positive step towards language protection and implementing Convention 169 in Chile.