Original article: “Manipulación de un espacio sagrado”: impiden entierro del esposo de la machi Millaray Huichalaf en cementerio ancestral Amid the grief over the passing of Jaime Javier Uribe Montiel, Mapuche Williche communities from the El Roble territory, Maihue-Carimallin, denounced a «profound injustice» following the refusal to allow his burial in the ancestral cemetery of Maihue. This situation, as outlined in a letter addressed to the regional authority of the Los Ríos Region, is perceived not only as an administrative decision but as a measure that directly impacts the family during a time of sorrow. The communities argue that this determination violates historical rights and exacerbates the conflict surrounding a space of significant cultural importance.
The consequences are tangible. The refusal particularly affects his wife, machi Millaray Huichalaf, and their children, several of whom are minors, who are unable to lay their father to rest in a place where their ancestors rest. Community members warn that obstructing this fundamental act during their mourning represents «a violation of human dignity« Burial in Maihue Ancestral Cemetery: A Collective, Inclusive Space To understand the conflict, the communities focus on the nature of the Maihue cemetery.
It is not just any site but an ancestral space defined as «of ancestral use and high cultural significance«, organized according to community criteria. They explain that the cemetery has historically been structured by family lineages, where «each family has a defined space within the enclosure, based on blood ties, territorial belonging, and community recognition«. In other words, there is no individual or exclusive administration but a collective system that has been respected for generations.
From this perspective, they argue that no group has the authority to exclude others. Doing so, they claim, not only breaks that tradition but also distorts the essence of the space. Family Connection and Territorial Belonging In this context, the communities maintain that Jaime Javier Uribe Montiel qualifies to be buried in the cemetery.
They recall a recognized practice in the territory: «when someone from outside forms a family with a member of the family lineages that utilize the cemetery, that person becomes part of that family community and acquires the right to be laid to rest with their family«. This is a customary norm that has historically governed the use of the site. Moreover, they emphasize his direct connection to the community: he was the husband of the machi, the father of their children, and part of the family and territorial fabric.
Therefore, they assert, preventing his burial not only disregards these practices but also directly affects their children by denying them the opportunity to bid farewell to their father in the place that belongs to them. Challenges to the Alleged Administration of the Cemetery Another point heightening the conflict is the reference to a supposed entity that administers the cemetery. The communities are unequivocal: «there is no legally constituted Indigenous community by that name in the area,» referencing the so-called «Maihue Indigenous Community».
In a territory where various communities coexist, they argue that this designation lacks formal support. From this, they question how a small group can make decisions about a space that has historically been shared, stating that this exclusion lacks legitimate and representative basis. The Underlying Issue: Territorial Conflict and Internal Tensions Beyond the specific case, the document places the events in a broader context.
The communities assert that the territory has experienced a process of social fragmentation, «largely caused by interventions from the Norwegian company Statkraft, which has been developing hydroelectric projects on the Pilmaiquen River, of immense cultural and spiritual significance to the Mapuche Williche communities in this territory. » In this vein, they warn that some of those opposing the burial «have negotiated with Statkraft and (…) receive direct funds from this company». This factor is not minor in a context where territorial disputes remain unresolved.
This point is particularly relevant, considering the role of machi Millaray Huichalaf, who has led opposition to hydroelectric projects on the Pilmaiquén River, precisely due to their impact on culturally and spiritually significant spaces. “Manipulation of a Sacred Space” Against this backdrop, the communities argue that what has occurred cannot be interpreted as an isolated event. In the letter, they assert that it represents a «manipulation of a sacred space for purposes that respond to disputes unrelated to mourning«, an accusation that elevates the conflict from a familial issue to a political and territorial one.
In their view, the problem affects not only the directly involved family but also the entire set of communities that have cared for this space for generations, calling into question respect for fundamental practices and values. A Conflict That Transcends Grief While Jaime Javier Uribe Montiel’s family tries to secure their farewell in the ancestral cemetery of Maihue, the communities alert that what is at stake is not just a burial. What is being contested, they argue, is respect for historical practices, community organization, and a space they deem sacred.
Thus, preventing the burial appears not as an isolated act but as part of a broader dispute, where territory, vested interests, and internal fractures interweave, this time amidst the grief of a family.