Form, function, and meaning of the identity occupations of the Kawésqar native people: a postcolonial analysis

Abstract

Introduction  The native peoples, after the arrival of the Spaniards, undoubtedly altered their way of life, reflected in the various forms of expression of their culture, language, habits, traditions and aspects of political and economic organization. The Kawésqar people settled in the Magallanes region, characterized by being nomadic, canoeists and animal hunters, thus their lifestyle and daily activities were organized around these occupations.

Objectives  Through this study, from the perspective of occupational justice, we seek to know the form, function and meaning of the ancestral occupations of the Kawésqar people and the changes presented in these, after colonization, in order to know and rescue the cultural legacy of this group in the region.

Methodology  For this purpose, a qualitative research of descriptive type was carried out using the photovoice technique, allowing for an analysis from the own experiences of those who, lived or received from first source aspects of the evolution of the Kawésqar culture.

Results  Through the participants' stories, we are able to gain insight into the ancestral occupations of the Kawésqar people, highlighting their relationship with nature, harmony with the environment, freedom, and family ties, emphasizing how these have been forcibly changed in the present day.

Conclusion  Among the aspects worth highlighting is a significant change in their most relevant occupations related to hunting and fishing, due to the existence of regulations and legislation, previously nonexistent, which cause marginalization and deprivation of significant occupations felt as a cultural hallmark of this ethnic group, altering their occupational and cultural identity.

Keywords:
Activities of Daily Living; Indigenous People; Identity Recognition; Social Justice