Indigenous Rural Housing: Pewenche territorial identity and the response of housing policies to their needs in Alto Biobío, Chile

Abstract

The Chilean State has developed housing programs designed to provide housing for low-income sectors in rural areas. Although these solutions mean improvements in living conditions of Indigenous families, there are still areas for improvement. One of these aspects refers to the coherence between dwelling designs and identity characteristics of the users. The article analyzes the response of the State through its housing policies to the needs of the Pewenche people, their culture and way of life which are understood as tangible and intangible heritage. The study focuses on the mountain territories of Alto Biobío, in the homonymous region, where the Pewenche population lives. The methodology included interviews, field visits and review of primary and secondary sources. The results confirm that the housing policy has provided better technological standards and thus a higher quality of life for families who generally live in conditions of material vulnerability. However, from the perception of the communities it is evident that, while there are families prone to incorporate other ways of life, a significant number want to preserve their culture which they consider threatened by the imposition of exogenous ways of life.