Cultural Memory, Santiago de Chile 2021 (2)

In 1973 Augusto Pinochet's military coup brought an end to the government of Salvador Allende; his dictatorship left a deep mark on Chile. In 1988 it was followed by a peaceful transition to an elected civilian government, but the constitution Pinochet had written remained in place. In 2019 the Chilean people took to the streets. It was the start of the historical decision of rewriting the constitution in 2021.

For the first time indigenous groups could participate. Elisa Loncón, a woman, member of the indigenous Mapuche population was elected as president by the constitutional convention of 155 delegates. This symbolizes not only the end of Pinochet, but also puts woman's rights, the topic of decolonization, as well as sustainability in our global interdependent world on the agenda. The Mapuche hold a holistic view of the earth, considering Mother Earth as ecosystem to be respected, not to be exploited like we do today. 

Elisa Loncón's position at the center in the former National Congres of Chile (ex Congreso Nacional) in Santiago, right underneath Pedro Subercaseaux's majestic painting "The Discovery of Chile" in 1536 symbolizes shifting power structures today.