Resumen

HERNANDEZ, Graciela B.. Orden cósmico, roles de género y relaciones interétnicas en la mitología tehuelche. Cuad. Sur, Hist. [online]. 2003, n.32, pp. 195-219. ISSN 1668-7604.

In this paper we mean to study certain aspects of Tehuelche mythology in which animals have a very important place in the origin of the cultural rules and the characteristics of the cultural change. We are interested in analyzing those mythic tales which tell of the relationship between the cosmic order and everyday life (duration of the seasons, origin of fire and origin of cooking principles), role gender (activities which were culturally considered to be proper of men or women) and interethnic relationships (Tehuelche/ Mapuche and Tehuelche / white relationships). These myths are part of the oral narrative but they have been collected in different documentary corpus; the most widely consulted are those published by Llaras Samitier (1950) and by Bórmida and Siffredi (1969-70). To carry out this work we will use these material as well as previous and subsequent compilations. We will also include texts collected by us among Tehuelche Indians from the Reserva Quilchamal and the Reserva del Chalia. The Tehuelche language suffers a quick process of vanishing, culture has been forced to adapt quickly in a world where there is no place for hunters, but myths still give us an opportunity to go further into this universe in which there are reflections on life, social organization, gender issues and their position in their surroundings and in the cosmos.

Palabras llave : Mythology; Oral Narrative; Tehuelches; Patagonia.