In this position she held a number of academic sessions devoted to research and application of linguistic knowledge to the teaching of languages, as well as Indian education. She has also led team work in multicultural studies and projects designed for Mapuche children, including teacher training workshops, community involvement and curriculum. The three publications which are part of this work include Breve historia de Llongahue, Breve historia de Coihueco and Breve historia de Isla Huapi. Apart from producing support materials for students in general, these books make an important contribution to Indian knowledge recovery, while simultaneously augmenting self-esteem within the Indian communities in general. Professor Catrileo is prepared to present the following academic lectures in English to all audiences.
Lectures are one hour long with time for questions.
The Mapuche people have been able to survive and keep the basic components of their culture by creating defenses against outsiders through a type of interaction that involves both contact and change. The Mapuche have managed to continue living on the basis of simple farming practices, trying to help each other in their daily routines. Many of them still live on reservations which do not offer enough land to support the increasing number of families. Nonetheless, this native group has designed new survival strategies that point to a strong desire to preserve their natural milieu and to revive the old customs and rituals, even in the larger cities such as Santiago, where a considerable number of Mapuche people live. There has been a marked tendency toward learning Mapudungun, the native language, and educational authorities have encouraged teaching the native language and culture in the school curriculum.