We have had the honor of collaborating with the celebrated Mapudungun poet María Ines Huenuñir Antihuala in Chile on several occasions. She laid the groundwork for the first-ever Mapudungun Talking Dictionary and we’ve taken part in events and Living Tongues workshops with her over the years.

Now, she is releasing a new album that includes many songs based on her poetry in Mapudungun. The album title is Kuifike Aukiñ Wiño Choyütelepay. It translates into Spanish as “Ecos ancestrales volviendo al origen” (which means “Ancestral Echoes Returning to the Source” in English). It is available locally in Chile and will be officially launched in Santiago on Saturday, December 14th, 2019.

María Ines Huenuñir Antihuala also just released an official music video for her song, “Mapuche Zomo” (Mapuche Woman), directed by Chilean artist Sergio Infante. It is a beautiful and engaging work and provides a glimpse into Mapuche womanhood and identity. The lyrics are based on Maria Huenuñir’s poem by the the same name. Living Tongues Program Director, Anna Luisa Daigneault, translated this poem into English, and we are providing the poetry in Mapudungun and English below.

Song, poetry and prayers by María Huenuñir
Video directed by Sergio Infante
Photography by Macarena Larrain

And there is more good news on this topic! The poem (and its translation) were included in a wonderful publication called “Poems from the Edge of Extinction” edited by Chris McCabe (Chambers Books) which just came out today in the Americas and is now available for order on Amazon.

The publication features award-winning poets from cultures as diverse as the Ainu people of Japan to the Zoque of Mexico, with languages that range from the indigenous Ahtna of Alaska to the Shetlandic dialect of Scots. This collection gathers together 50 of the finest poems in endangered, or vulnerable, languages from across the continents. We are pleased that Maria Ines Huenuñir Antihuala’s poem “Mapuche Zomo” is included in this landmark publication and hope that the book reaches audiences far and wide.

Mapuche Zomo
(autora: Maria Ines Huenuñir Antihuala)

Weñanküley kiñe zomo
kiñe mapuche ñuke
Kizu ka lelikey antü
ka lelikey trimiñ pun
Fey ta tukuneniekefüy
Kizu ñi chamal mew
weñankülekey
Welu küme tukukey
Ñi trapelakucha ka ñi trarilongko
amun rellmu reke felekey
ñi chapetun
ka kiñe trariwe tukuniekey
küpa yomülkey ñi ange yewekelu
welu küme küzawkey
Cheu ñi amun
müyawkey kizu ñi zungu engu.
Mapuche ñuke
amun manke reke feleami
fey ta yewekelay
ñi kurügen
küme wutrapüralekey
wente mawizantu mew,
eimi niemi küme piwke
küme molfüñ
poyeniekeimi
kom tami pu püñeñ
amuaimi kizu tami lelfün mew.
Tiyewpüle petu rayütukey
kozküya rayen
eimi tami ayen mu
Mañumeyu ñuke.

Mapuche Woman
Author: Maria Ines Huenuñir Antihuala
Translated by Anna Luisa Daigneault

The sad sigh of a woman,
she is a Mapuche woman.
She can see both
the light of day, the dark of night.
The darkness blends
with the dark color of her clothes.
Although she is sad, she proudly wears
her beautiful silver jewelry.
Laces of all colors, in her braids,
she wears a red belt as well.
She wants no more insults!
She works so hard.
Troubled by her dark skin,
No one understands her.
But she wants to defend her culture,
Carry on with her traditional customs.
Mapuche woman, be like the condor!
Despite his dark feathers,
He feels happiness and great honor
He shines proudly on the coat of arms.
You have a sincere and tender heart
That overflows with pure blood
Woman of eternal tenderness
Protect your children with great care!
Beloved mother, don’t be hard on yourself!
Live peacefully, with serenity
There, near the natural world
I will give you a kopiwe flower
To thank you for your kindness.

Thanks for reading!