Alexis Caiguan Explained

Birth Place:Osorno, Chile
Occupation:Educator
Nationality:Mapuche
Birth Date:18 August 1975
Alexis Caiguan
Birth Name:Alexis Reinaldo Caiguan Ancapan
Predecessor:office established
Term Start:4 July 2021
Term End:4 July 2022
Office:Member of the Constitutional Convention of Chile

Alexis Reinaldo Caiguan Ancapan[1] (born 18 August 1975) is a Mapuche-Huilliche educator, musician, and politician in Chile. In 2021, Caiguan was elected to serve as a member of the Constitutional Convention of Chile to represent the Mapuche people in the Los Lagos Region.

Early life and career

Caiguan was born on 18 August 1975 in Osorno, Chile in the Huilliche Pangui Ku community.[2] As a traditional educator, Caiguan has worked for five years the Entre Lagos School in Puyehue, Osorno Province.[3] Caiguan has long been active in indigenous activism, and previously served as the President of the Panguiku Urban Indigenous Community.[4]

Political career

In the 2021 Chilean Constitutional Convention election, Caiguan was elected to one of the seven reserved seats for the Mapuche people.[5] Carmen Jaramillo, a fellow Mapuche activist and academic, was initially slated to serve on the body, but was replaced by Caiguan in order to comply with gender parity rules.[6]

As a member of the Constitutional Convention, Caiguan has used his platform to advocate for the welfare of Mapuche activists targeted in the Mapuche conflict. Caiguan signed onto a letter condemning the killing of Pablo Marchant, a 29-year old[7] Mapuche man shot in the head and killed by the Carabineros de Chile.[8] During the election for President of the Constitutional Convention, Caiguan supported the successful candidacy of fellow Mapuche activist Elisa Loncón.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alexis Reinaldo Caiguan Ancapan. 2021-07-17. Chile Constituyente. es. 2021-07-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20210717190136/https://chileconstituyente.cl/constituyentes/alexis-reinaldo-caiguan-ancapan/. dead.
  2. Web site: 2021-05-20. Ley de Paridad de Género deja fuera a Carmen Jaramillo y en su remplazo asume Alexis Caiguan - La Mega FM 90.3. 2021-07-17. es.
  3. Web site: Alexis Caiguan Ancapan – Anales de la República. 2021-07-17. es.
  4. Web site: 2012-11-10. Especialistas en medicina mapuche atenderán gratis este sábado en Cesfam de Osorno. 2021-07-17. BioBioChile - La Red de Prensa Más Grande de Chile. es.
  5. Web site: 2021-07-09. Los principales desafíos de los y las constituyentes mapuche. 2021-07-17. CIPER Chile. es.
  6. Web site: Músico Mapuche-huilliche será uno de los constituyentes por los escaños reservados en Los Lagos. 2021-07-17. Vértice TV. es.
  7. Web site: 2021-07-11. Quien era Pablo Marchant, el weichafe de la CAM asesinado en un fundo de Mininco este viernes. 2021-07-17. Interferencia. es.
  8. Web site: Declaración Publica ante asesinato de joven mapuche Pablo Marchant. 2021-07-17.
  9. Web site: Mapuche constituents propose Elisa Loncón as president of the Convention. El Mostrador.