Kultrun

This is a sacred instrument, Kultrun, made by the Mapuche, the dominant indigeous group in the Patagonia Mountain Range of Chile. This drum is used during rituals of inducting a new Machi into power — these are people that have a spiritual connection to the land and Gods around them. Each drum is different for the individual Machi, but encompasses the same symbols: ancestors, land, and spirits. These drums are made by a very trustworthy member of the community, as there are intricacies that must be perfect in order for the specific Machi to bring luck to the tribe. This specific artifact is a replica of one that would have been used before colonial influence in Chile. However, drums like this are still used today — despite an increase in indigenous people becoming Catholic or protestant. 

This artifact describes a lot about what the peoples of pre-European Chile were like. They were people who believed in trust and the world around them. They were able to live in the Patagonia mountains successfully, which was then interrupted by the penetration of colonial ideals. There are still people using this artifact today, as it has incredible influence on the future of their people. For example, the type of sound that is made from the drum, decides the future of the tribe.

Works Cited:

Kultrun. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K49r_zSLND4.

“Mapuche Machi’s Kultrung – Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian – George Gustav Heye Center, New York.” Accessed February 14, 2020. https://americanindian.si.edu/static/exhibitions/infinityofnations/patagonia/177322.html.