On International Mother Language Day, it is essential to reflect on the importance of preserving and developing Indigenous languages as a commitment to cultural diversity and the enrichment of our collective identity.
On International Mother Language Day, it is essential to reflect on the importance of preserving and developing Indigenous languages as a commitment to cultural diversity and the enrichment of our collective identity. At the Aitue Foundation, we reiterate our commitment to the revitalization of Indigenous languages, a task that has become increasingly urgent in a context where globalization and cultural homogenization threaten to silence voices that have been fundamental in the construction of our societies.
In 2019, the International Year of Indigenous Languages was commemorated, an initiative that highlighted the critical situation of these languages in Chile and around the world. According to the 2015 Casen survey, eight out of ten Indigenous people do not speak or understand their mother tongue, an alarming figure that compels us to redouble our efforts to reverse this trend. Today, with more recent data from the 2017 Census and the 2022 CASEN survey, we know that the situation remains worrisome. According to the 2017 Census, only 10.3% of the Indigenous population reported speaking and understanding their native language, while the 2022 CASEN survey reveals that, although there has been a slight increase in the intergenerational transmission of these languages, significant gaps in their use and revitalization persist.
The revitalization of Indigenous languages is not just a linguistic issue; it is an act of cultural preservation. Each language is a unique vehicle for ancestral knowledge, traditions, stories, and worldviews that have been passed down from generation to generation. Losing a language is losing an irreplaceable part of our humanity; it is erasing a unique way of understanding and relating to the world. For this reason, at the Aitue Foundation, we have worked tirelessly to strengthen intercultural bilingual education, implementing courses and programs that incorporate technological tools to reach more people and communities.
However, this effort cannot be solely the responsibility of civil society organizations. It is essential that the State, civil society, and Indigenous peoples themselves work together to create favorable conditions that allow for the revitalization of these languages. This implies not only effective public policies but also a social commitment that values and promotes linguistic diversity as a fundamental pillar of our national identity.
On this International Mother Language Day, we call for reflection on the role each of us can play in this process. From learning a few words in an Indigenous language to supporting initiatives that promote its teaching and use, we can all contribute to ensuring that these languages not only survive but flourish. For example, many names of municipalities, streets, and places in Chile have Indigenous origins, but often the people who live in those places are unaware of their meaning. Temuco, for instance, comes from the Mapudungun word “temu ko,” which means “temu water,” referring to a tree. Another example is Curicó, whose name comes from “kuri ko,” which translates as “black water.”
Recognizing and valuing these names is a simple yet powerful way to connect with our Indigenous roots. Chile’s cultural richness lies in its diversity, and preserving our Indigenous languages is preserving the soul of our country.
Carlos Llancaqueo Mellado
President of the Aitue Foundation
