1. By: Ashley Morgan

2. Background The Mapuche are the "people of the land“ – Mapu means land – Che means people. The Mapuche people were the first inhabitants of half of the area (toda) known as Chile and Argentina. Before the Spanish arrived in 1541, the Mapuche occupied a vast territory in the Southern Cone of the continent and the population numbered about two million. The Mapuche nation now constitutes the third largest indigenous society in South America.

3. Location The Mapuche tribe inhabits south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. Chile 604,349 – Make up 3% of population Argentina 113,680

4. Background They consists of a wide range of ethnicity composed of various groups who share a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common heritage.

5. Language  Mapudungun  (from mapu 'earth, land' and dungun 'speak, speech')  It is also spelled Mapuzugun and sometimes called Mapudungu or Araucanian.  Spanish

6. Flag red: blood fought in the wars green: nature & earth sky blue: sky & hope yellow: sun & light white: the mountains of the Mapuche land Cultrun: a Mapuche drum used in ceremonies, represents the four central direction points and includes the sun, moon and stars.

7. Conflict Today they continue to have a political struggle with the Chilean government to maintain their own land. Chile exports wood to the United States, almost all of which comes from this southern region, with an annual value of $600 million and rising. Forest Ethics, a conservation group, has led an international campaign for preservation. – The Home Depot chain and other leading wood importers have agreed to revise their purchasing policies to provide for the protection of native forests in Chile. Some Mapuche leaders still want stronger protections for the forests though.

8. Beliefs The Pillan is a powerful and respected male spirit in Mapuche mythology. According to the legend the Pillan are good spirits, but they can also cause disasters, since they also punish (with drought or flood, earthquakes, or diseases.

9. Textiles The fabrics woven by the Mapuche continue being destined for domestic as well as for gift, sale or barter. Many of the fabrics made are intended for the trade and in many cases are an important source of income for families. Women played an important economic role and also cultural Fabrics were made by women who transmitted their knowledge from generation to generation.

10. Popular Culture The characters Huilen and Nahuel in the last book of the Twilight Saga, "Breaking Dawn" are Mapuche.

11. Works Cited http://www.mapuche-nation.org/english/main/feature/m_nation.htm http://www.mapuche-nation.org/english/html/m_nation/main/history.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mapuche http://www.mapuche.nl/english/mapuche.htm Http://www.cholchol.org/en_mapuche.php http://www.southamerica.cl/Chile/Mapuche.htm