Omission. Mapuche Rütran and Settler Narratives at Valdivia’s Historical Museum, Chile

Abstract

We analyze the Mapuche silver collection at the Historical and Anthropological Museum of Valdivia, Chile, in relation to settler-colonial narratives and possessive desires. We argue that rütran (Mapuche body adornment) were transformed from living archives into heritage objects through settler omissions. We also examine the museum building and the roles of Walter Reccius and Maurice van de Maele in this patrimonialization, concluding with our community-based project.

Key words: Mapuche rütran, settler omissions, patrimonialization