WOMEN-LED LIVELIHOODS & NATIVE FOODS

MAPLE Chile, through a local work group led by Mapuche agroecologist and Field Coordinator with MAPLE Fernando Quilaqueo—is developing short, mid and long-term strategies to find community-based, nature-based and market-based solutions to help families transition from the chemical-heavy crop back to organic indigenous farming of Mapuche Quinoa and other native seeds fertilized with algae. MAPLE works with families to strengthen their native food systems and women-led businesses through innovative native berry management by doing cultivation in garden beds, sustainable harvest, solar dehydration and sustainable processing. We search to open market outlets for native foods that are high in antioxidants and with cultural value-added- such as the maqui and murta berries in delicious berry liquors, jams and dried fruits offered to visitors and socially-conscious consumers.

To restore the balance of local economies, MAPLE works to empower leadership of mapuche women artisans through new business models. The project, developed jointly with Kuzao Zomo Artisans Group, aims to create a sustainable livelihood for women while generating incentives to preserve mapuche knowledge on traditional textiles and basketry.

Watch video about Mapuche Native Foods here.

Native Berry Propagation and Value-Added Products

Start Date: 2016

Locations: Llaguepulli, Allipen, Malahue-Chanko, Lake Budi, Chile

Donors and Allies: Chile Ministry of Environment, INIA Carillanca, Cultural Survival, Escuela Agroecologica de Pirque

Sustainable Women-led Artisan Associative Models

Start Date: 2016

Community Partners:  The Community of Allipen, Lake Budi, Chile

Donors and Allies: The Bay and Paul Foundations; Aid to Artisans; Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund; The Conant Family Foundation; Friends of MAPLE; 

Agriculture Transition through Agroecology, Nature-based Systems and Traditional Knowledge 

Start Date: 2017

Community Partners: The Llaguepulli Community, Lake Budi, Chile

Donors and Allies: The Bay and Paul Foundations; Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Learning/ Pawanka Fund

More maple Chile programs