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Mapuche regional flags (Chile and Argentina)

Last modified: 2005-08-19 by antonio martins
Keywords: huillche | huenteche | lafquenche | nagche | pehuenche | cultrum |
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Location

These areas are in southern Chile (south of Bio Bio River) and the name is the indigenous (mapuche) name, original but unknown in the world. More information can be found in the rewiews of the Mapuche people.
Jaume Ollé, 24 Jan 1997


About the flags

In the spring of 1991 in Valdivia was celebrated a convention called Meli Witram Mapu of the Mapuche People. The adoption of a national flag was aborted and 500 projects were presented. Five projects were selectioned for the five regions of the Mapuches (Lafquenche, Pehuenche, Huillche, Huenteche and Nagche).

The regional flags share a common symbolism:

  • red: blood derramed in the wars (against Spain, first, and after against Chilean Army and white chilean people)
  • green: Natura, earth
  • skyblue (celeste): sky, hope
  • yellow: sun, light
  • white: the Mountains of the Mapuche Land (snow some months of the year)
Three of the designs bear a central emblem named Cultrum, that represent the woman, the four directions (N, S. W and E), the perfect round of the Earth and the movement in the space.

Jaume Ollé, 16 Sep 1996


Huillche region

[Flag of Huillche]
by Jaume Ollé, 16 Sep 1996

This flag is very similar to the new flag of Seychelles, but remember that the Mapuche design was made in 1991.
Jaume Ollé, 16 Sep 1996


Huenteche region

[Flag of Huenteche]
by Jaume Ollé, 22 Jan 1997

Lafquenche region

[Flag of Lafquenche]
by Jaume Ollé, 17 Jan 1997

Nagche region

[Flag of Nagche]
by Jaume Ollé

In 1992, in the V Centenary of the discovery of America, the Mapuche people adopted a national flag that was presented for the first time to the Spanish king in his visit to Chile. The flag is based on the Nagche regional flag, but is quite different in the border, the stripes (only three) and the central emblem.
Jaume Ollé, 08 Nov 1996


Pehuenche region

[Flag of Pehuenche]
by Jaume Ollé, 17 Jan 1997