On May 15 and 16, a meaningful knowledge-sharing gathering took place between the Mapuche communities of Nehuen Co and Wefu Weku
On May 15 and 16, a meaningful knowledge-sharing gathering took place between the Mapuche communities of Nehuen Co and Wefu Weku, as part of the project Climate-Smart Livestock with Mapuche Communities of Argentina and Chile with an Intercultural Perspective. The event was held in Ingeniero Jacobacci, based at the community center of Nehuen Co.
The activities began on Thursday the 15th with a visit to the local artisan market, a space for connecting with local production and traditional knowledge. On Friday the 16th, the participants visited the Forest Nursery of the Southern Region Development Agency, focusing on the current use of native and exotic plants. Cultivation, propagation, and use practices were shared, strengthening the connection between technical knowledge and community-based wisdom.
Students from the Technical Education Center also joined the activities, participating in an introductory dynamic where plants were used as a starting point for dialogue and identifying shared interests among participants.
In the afternoon, women from both communities presented their experiences with natural dyes, showcasing the results of wool dyeing using various local plant species. The Nehuen Co community also introduced their community herbarium, a collective tool for documenting and systematizing knowledge about local plants—including their names and medicinal, nutritional, fodder, veterinary, and cultural uses.
The Wefu Weku community shared their ongoing project to complete a community facility in their territory. The goal is to create a space for wool washing and add value to their production by processing and selling top-quality wool.
The gathering concluded with a discussion about organizing a follow-up meeting in the spring, potentially including other communities in the region, such as the Calfucurá community from Zapala, which is developing a project focused on medicinal plants.
This workshop is part of Component 4 of the project, aimed at strengthening internal alliances between communities and technical teams. Through these gatherings, a collective construction of knowledge is promoted—one that engages with the Mapuche worldview and supports a more sustainable and culturally respectful approach to livestock production.
