- Alacaluf
The Alacaluf (also called Halakwulup, Kawésqar, Kaweskar) are a
South America n people living inChile in theStrait of Magellan (Brunswick Peninsula , and Wellington,Santa Inés , andDesolación islands), Chile. Their traditional language is known as Kawésqar.Economy
They were a
nomad ic sea-faring people until the twentieth century. Because of their sea culture, the Kawésqar have never farmed the land.Population
They were never very numerous; the total population never reached more than five thousand. In the 1930s the Alacaluf settled on Wellington Island, in the town of
Puerto Edén . Today, very few Kawésqar remain. The 2002 census found 2,622 people self-identifying as Kawésqar (those that still practiced their native culture or spoke their native language). In 2006, only 15 full-blooded members remained. Lessons on Kawésqar are part of the local curriculum but very few speakers of the language remain.Tribes and languages
Adwipliin, Aksánas, Alacaluf, Cálen (
Cálenches , Calenes,),Caucahue , Enoo,Lecheyel ,Taíjataf (Tayataf), Yequinahuere (Yequinahue,Yekinauer ).ee also
*
Kawésqar language External links
* [http://www.indigenousgeography.si.edu/themes.asp?commID=3&themeID=1&lang=eng&fullCopy=1 Kawésqar Community]
* [http://www.chileaustral.cl/culturas/indios/alaca.html Los Alacalufes]
* [http://www.limbos.org/sur/alak.htm Los indios Alacalufes (o Kawésqar)]
* [http://images.google.hr/images?hl=hr&q=alacalufes&btnG=Tra%C5%BEi&sa=N&tab=wi Photo Gallery]
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