Paper short abstract:

This paper discusses the ontological difficulties that the heterogenous forms of life manifested in the arena of Mapuche entrepreneurship have to overcome when they are confronted to the univocal requirements imposed by Chilean society and state.

Paper long abstract:

Based on ethnographic fieldwork carried out among both rural and urban Mapuche people in south and central Chile, this paper aims to discuss three aspects we deem as key in order to understand contemporary Mapuche entrepreneurship. First, the need of an intensive negotiation with Winka, or non-Mapuche people, and the desired and undesired outcomes it produces. Secondly, the emergence of a strong tension among Mapuche people, derived partially from this closeness to Winka people, and partially from a disagreement concerning notions of authenticity, moral, commodification, and what is to be a proper Mapuche person. Finally, the irreducibility of this disagreement, inasmuch is predicated on a social philosophy that is extremely respectful of the reality and certitude of each personal perspective. Eventually, the interaction between these elements produces a multiplicity of alternative perspectives that are based on a profound respect towards what each person thinks or believes, but that are forced to compete, by the requirements of the state and NGOs-subsided entrepreneurship programs, in order to define which one is the one having the right to succeed.