Aylla Rewe of Ngen Mapu Kintuante

The Aylla Rewe of the Ngen Mapu Kintuante is a traditional Mapuche Williche organisation dedicated to the defense of the Pilmaiquén River and the sacred site of Ngen Mapu Kintuante, located in southern Chile, between the regions of Los Ríos and Los Lagos. The Ngen Mapu Kintuante is of fundamental importance to the spiritual, cultural and community life of the Mapuche Williche people and provides spaces used for ceremonies, spiritual practices and the communities relationship with the river and the territory.

For years, Aylla Rewe has advocated for the protection of the Pilmaiquén River, the Ngen Mapu Kintuante and the collective rights of the Mapuche Williche people in the face of hydroelectric projects being developed in the territory. Its work has focused on demanding respect for the communities territorial, cultural and spiritual rights, as well as their right to participate in decisions affecting their territories and to have their free, prior and informed consent respected.

In particular, Aylla Rewe has opposed the impacts associated with hydroelectric projects on the Pilmaiquén River, which are currently linked to the Norwegian company Statkraft AS. Human rights defenders and traditional authorities associated with Aylla Rewe have reported damage to the land and sacred sites, as well as criminalisation, threats and other acts of harassment linked to their defence of the territory. Despite these risks, Aylla Rewe continues to defend the Pilmaiquén River and the continuity of the cultural and spiritual practices of the Mapuche Williche people.