The Rise of the Yaghan, Indigenous People of Tierra Del Fuego | Hacker News Reader

The Rise of the Yaghan, Indigenous People of Tierra Del Fuego

atlasobscura.com

27 pointsThevet10 comments

Sort-of-unrelated aside: Patagonia is amazing. The Chilean bit slightly more so than the Argentinian side IMHO, but in any case: you'll want to go there sooner rather than later (those icebergs don't last forever, you know...).

The W trek is particularly good, despite the hotels-that-have-a-20-year-concession-and-therefore-don't-have-to-care you'll encounter along the way. Get a local guide, they're affordable and fun.

I was born and currently live in Tierra del Fuego. AMA

I'm a map geek and I often stare at that super weird border right through Tierra del Fuego, cutting it in half in a nonsensical way, and clearly drawn in some faraway place without much regard for practical life down there. Does that border affect local life? Is it a hard border, or is it one of those borders that exists mostly on paper but locals act as if it isn't really there? Do people on either side "feel" Argentinian or Chilean, or do they mostly feel like "Tierra del Fuego" locals (I can't help notice that your comment does not include which side you live on)?

Also does Chileans think that they have a bit of "Atlantic" coast?

haha , no they don't

No, no one lives near there. Tierra del Fuego has a low population to start with, and that border is in the middle of the countryside. I don't how the estancias nearby treat that border.

But the only main road is at the top of that border, and that's a hard border. You have to cross that border to go from the island to mainland Argentina, across Chile. It's a pain everytime, and it affects life very much.

I live on Argentina side. People on each side feel Argentinian or Chilean, they talk a different accent as soon as you cross the border.

are you british?

no, I'm Argentinian

Have you ever met a Yaghan or other indigenous Tierra del Fuegan?

yes, when I was a kid, and they were very old. From the Ona tribe. But they dressed and acted like normal old people who lived a countryside childhood. No bow and arrows.

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