| willi "south" | |
|---|---|
| People | Huilliche |
| Language | Chedungun |
| Country | Futahuillimapu |
Futahuillimapu, orFütawillimapu, is a traditional territory of theHuilliche people. Futahuillimapu spans the land betweenBueno River andReloncaví Sound.[1] Futahuillimapu means "great land of the south".[1]
Back in the 18th century when this territory was free of foreign rule its western part, corresponding to theChilean Coast Range and its foothills was inhabited by so-calledCuncos while proper Huilliches lived in the flatlands of the eastern portion corresponding to theCentral Valley.[1]
After thedestruction of Osorno in 1602 Futahuillimapu and the whole area betweenValdivia and the settlements ofCalbuco andCarelmapu remained independent indigenous territory closed to the Spanish. The Spanish had thus little information on this territory and had to rely on hearsay.[2] This lack of concrete knowledge of the territory fueled speculations about themythicalCity of the Caesars.[2]
The territory wasravaged by a Spanish militia in 1792.[1] The next year the Spanish-HuillicheParliament of Las Canoas was held. In this official meeting local chiefs had to accept the incorporation of Futahuillimapu to theSpanish Empire and allow the Spanish to reestablish thecity of Osorno.[1] Soon after the reestablishment of Osorno nearby Huilliche lands begun to be coveted by the new settlers whose purchase of land was only occasionally objected by local governorJuan Mackenna.[3] In the mid-19th century these settlers were joined bynew ones from Germany whom the Huilliche calledleupe lonko (blond heads).[3] Loss of lands by the Huilliche in the 19th century was often related to scams,language barriers, and the decline of legal framework, such as thecomisario de naciones, that protected indigenous interest.[3] As result of Chilean and German settlers settling aroundBueno River in the 19th century, Huilliches living in theCentral Valley migrated to thecoastal region of Osorno.[4]