Categorías identitarias relacionales. Hacia otra manera de abordar identificaciones indígenas en zonas “sin indios"

Abstract

This article sets out a methodological proposal for the study of indigenous identifications in areas that were devised from hegemonic narratives denying such origins; which have served to discredit territorial claims from an ethnic ascription, labeling them as spurious and/or instrumentalist. From a particular case under study in the Comarca Andina del Paralelo 42º region, in the Northwest Province of Chubut, Patagonia Argentina, the investigation into Indigenous identifications by non-indigenous sectors with which the latter maintain alliances, mixed identitary categories were unveiled including that of the Mapuches, thereby revealing their presence in the territories where official accounts deny them. The native categorical term "hipuche" –which emerged four decades ago in a scene of strong territorial conflict– reveals an alliance between two groups, with a strong imprint in the area, although systematically silenced in the local and regional historical accounts.