Diverse Mapuche Landscapes: Co-creating Coastal and Mountain Economies of Digital Heritage

This chapter explores two case studies that highlight the author's recent work co-designing frameworks and tools to preserve the heritage and knowledge of Mapuche community economies and livelihoods in Chile. While both case studies operate within a Mapuche framework, the approach and aims differ due to the distinct landscapes, biospheres and economic contexts where they are enacted. The first case study focuses on the Mapuche communities in a mountainous region near the border of Argentina, where their presence and significance have been largely overlooked in a heavily extracted tourism setting. The second case study takes place in a coastal wetland context, where colonial farming practices have degraded the land and waters. In both case studies, the objective is to document and safeguard Mapuche knowledge for future generations. This chapter maps out how Mapuche colleagues and allies have co-designed these two archival projects in order to promote community-managed heritage economies that align with the values and aspirations of the Mapuche people. These two co-design approaches acknowledge and embrace the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of Mapuche culture, particularly in the face of challenges posed by climate change and decolonisation.