A few days ago, the city of Temuco dawned with gigantography of the poet in its public buildings and both the mayor of Temuco and his councillors supported the need to urgently recognize this work and its author. In addition, unanimously, the Regional Council of La Araucanía also confirmed its support. The Chair of the Core Culture Commission said that “it is a great opportunity for the country to recognize this great poet for his work and for being a representative of the Mapuche people.”
In addition to the official application made by both the Catholic University of Chile and the University of the Frontier, the accessions of hundreds of artists, academics and professionals from various areas were joined, including Ana Tijoux, Manuel García, Oona Chaplin, Beatriz Pichi Malen, Nano Stern, Gloria Lazo and Roberto Bravo and public figures such as José Bengoa, Nivia Palma , José Aylwin, Carlos Aldunate, Elisa Loncon and Chantal Signoro. Worldwide and a few days ago, the Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1992 and the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation in 1998, Rigoberta Menchú sent the Jury of the Prize a letter.
Contribution in intercultural education
In the missive written by Rigoberta Menchú, he states: “My support is undoubtedly born of the natural solidarity that our candidate belongs to indigenous peoples, but beyond these historical bonds of solidarity, in my recognition that I support the talent of an enlightened poet and writer, widely recognized in international literary academic circles and for his active contribution in bilingual intercultural education within the Chilean educational system” , highlighting its long relationship with the training of students in Chile, being included for decades in school texts and thanks to its constant visits to schools, universities and educational spaces.
The UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador also highlights the value of the Chihuailaf figure for national poetic identity and explains what its significance consists of, equating it with our two Nobel Laureates: “represents personalities who like Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda, not only make the original people visible, but as the great creators, their poetic works , are living expressions of nature, history and human becoming, his legacy is holistic, with universal space-time, which in addition to enriching the spiritual production and fine arts of indigenous peoples, greatly transcends the poetic and literary creation of the Chilean nation”.
In this way Rigoberta Menchú joins the extensive list of personalities and institutions that support this nomination, convinced that it would be a great gift for Chile, to reward a unique and impactful work, and through it, that the essential and intercultural contribution to the country, of the Mapuche people, be recognized for the first time.
