Conserve the Sacred: The Profound Needs of the Indigenous Communities of Arica y Parinacota, Chile

Abstract

Arica y Parinacota is the northernmost region of Chile, in the so-called “curve of America”, in the pacific desert (which starts south of Lima, Peru and goes until Atacama, Chile), and on the border with Peru and Bolivia. It has been a strategic point throughout history, serving as the natural corridor between the highland plateau and the coast. Even before the Inca period, the development of the “Arican Culture” during the Late Intermediate period (1100–1400 CE) unified and interconnected the three ecological levels, valleys, lowlands and highlands, that linked the hinterland to the coastal areas. These close relations and co-dependency are even more visible during the subsequent colonial periods, first Incan and then Spanish domination. Reclaiming this connection and decolonizing the architectural landscape of the region is the key aim of the Fundación Altiplano, which strives to integrate heritage preservation and cultural tourism alongside economic development.