SACRED PLACES, INDIGENOUS RELIGIONS AND CULTURAL PATRIMONY: THE CERRO COLO-COLO CASE

Abstract

The Colo-Colo hill, a sacred Mapuche place, suffered severe damages as a result of the 2010 Chilean Earthquake. The Municipality of Arauco undertook works to prevent landslides. By doing so, it cut sacred trees and removed some archaeological remains. The Municipality acted without prior consultation to the indigenous communities. The Chilcoco Indigenous Community brought the case to court for breaching the ILO Convention 169. The Appeal Court of Concepción ruled the measure was illegal and arbitrary, since these sacred sites cannot be intervened without prior consultation with indigenous communities, according to ILO Convention 169.