Indigenous Communities of Caldera and Copiapó Hold the 4th Edition of the Indigenous Expo with Support from CMP

The activity took place along the Las Machas Beach waterfront and brought together nine Indigenous communities, which presented ancestral products, traditional cuisine, cultural workshops, and artistic performances open to the public.

Last Friday, January 23, the 4th edition of the Indigenous Expo was held—an initiative supported by Compañía Minera del Pacífico (CMP) and the Municipality of Caldera—which brought together Diaguita and Colla communities from Caldera and Copiapó in a space for gathering, cultural exchange, and the promotion of the ancestral traditions of the region’s Indigenous peoples.

The fair, held on the Las Machas Beach waterfront in the port city of Caldera, stood out for its diverse program, which included free workshops, artistic performances, and an ancestral gastronomy showcase, allowing visitors to learn about, share, and enjoy cultural expressions from the participating communities.

“For us, these initiatives have deep significance because they connect the community with the ancestral culture of our Indigenous peoples and, at the same time, allow them to showcase and sell their products, generating a productive chain that drives their development and local economy. We want our communities to grow, which is why our commitment as a company is to continue supporting them, strengthening dialogue, and building partnerships that improve the quality of life of everyone who is part of the territory,”said Rodrigo Mora, CMP’s Deputy Manager for the Copiapó Valley.

The Indigenous Expo is the result of collaborative work between the communities and CMP, aimed at strengthening the recognition and appreciation of Indigenous identity and culture; fostering capacity-building for joint work; and promoting new forms of association by opening spaces for commercialization, dialogue, and visibility for Indigenous peoples.

From the participating communities, appreciation for the initiative was widespread. Kiriath Campillay, ancestral and spiritual authority of the Diaguita Corazón de Arcoiris people, highlighted that her community presented various products, such as seed-filled pouches for showers and pain relief, Diaguita prints on T-shirts and mugs, as well as ancestral medicinal herbs.

“We have participated in the Indigenous Expo in Caldera, Bahía Inglesa, and Copiapó. This is a great opportunity provided by CMP, as it has enabled us to take part; with our own resources, we would not be able to do so,”she noted.

Meanwhile, Amalia Godoy Donoso, president of the Diaguita Wentru-Lafken community, led a workshop on churrascas, a traditional Diaguita preparation, and hosted a stand featuring ancestral gastronomic products.

“I mainly work with churrascas, which are part of our culture, and being able to share them here is very important to us. We are grateful to CMP, because they are always supporting us, and this fair is possible thanks to that support,”she commented.

Through initiatives such as the Indigenous Expo, CMP reaffirms its commitment to the sustainable development of local territories by promoting spaces for intercultural exchange, strengthening ties with communities, and actively contributing to the preservation, dissemination, and projection of the identity and cultural heritage of the region’s Indigenous peoples.