Mapuche Confederated Tribes

The Mapuche Confederated Tribes is the nationally recognized tribal nation in the United Realms. It was established in the early 20th century when Northern Platalonia incorporated as a new constituent realm.

The Mapuche Confederated Tribes consists of ten tribes: the Acol Tribe in Ngulusia; the Cuzco Tribe and the Moluche Tribe in Potrencia; the Carelhue Tribe and the Uwa Tribe in Kuyumonia; the Huiliches Tribe in Willicia; the Icalma Tribe in Pikunicia; the Itahue Tribe and the b]Yunyay Tribe[/b] in Northern Platalonia; and the Vichuquen Tribe in Puelania.

Demographics

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Citizenship requirements

For those who are born to citizens of the Mapuche Confederated Tribes, citizenship is automatically granted. In all other cases, the tribal nation maintains a one-eighth degree blood quantum (equivalent to one great grandparent) for citizenship. Originally, a one-half degree blood quantum (equivalent to one parent) was required for citizenship, but this was amended to the current requirement in 1910. However, the individual tribes are allowed to have their own blood quantum requirement: the Acol Tribe maintains a one-half blood quantum; the Icalma Tribe maintains a one-fourth blood quantum (equivalent to one grandparent); and the Carelhue and Uwa Tribes maintain a one-sixteenth blood quantum (equivalent to one great-great-grandparent).

Typically, interested persons would apply with an individual tribe through a relative who is a citizen (or that relative would apply if the person is a minor). However, if a person was unable to register with a particular tribe due to its blood quantum requirement, they would be able to apply to the Mapuche Confederated Tribes directly for citizenship; in this case, they would simply demonstrate their Mapuche ancestry.

The marriage of the Duchess and Duke of Küxapapu in 2011 was the first union in the history of the United Realms between a member of the royal house and a citizen of the tribal nation. However, the royal house is ethnically Mapuche, as its first four generations had no Spanish ancestors; as a result, all current living descendants of Felipe I were technically able to become citizens of the Mapuche Confederated Tribes. For years, tribal leaders prohibited the addition of dynastic members (of the United Realms and of the constituent realms), as well members of nobility, claiming that doing so would threaten the integrity of the nation. In 2012, a referendum was held to determine whether such members should be allowed to join the tribal nation; with over 90% in favor, members of dynastic and noble houses were allowed to apply for citizenship, although dynastic members were prohibited from running for public office. Thus, Princes Daniel and Benjamín, the children of the Duchess and Duke of Küxapapu who were born months after the referendum, were the first citizens of the Mapuche Confederated Tribes born into the royal house.

Language

Mapudungun is the historical language of the Mapuche, with several dialects having formed since the Mapuche migration in the mid-6th century. While the language was displaced during the Spanish occupation, the newly formed Kingdom of Oronia designated it as an official language. And since it is a required course in education, Mapudungun is spoken by over 90% of the population. Many language programs in universities collaborate with the Mapuche Confederated Tribes to ensure effective instruction.

Government

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Central government

The Council of Tribes, holding both executive and legislative power, is the central governing authority of the Mapuche Confederated Tribes. One councilor is elected to represent each of the ten tribes and serve a six-year term with no set term limit; two members are elected by the Council to serve as its Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for a one-year term with no set term limit. The chairperson is allotted one additional vote, which can only be used to break a tie. Individual tribes and citizens of the tribal nation can challenge any law made by the Council through referendums, as well as introduce bills and amendments through initiatives.

The Crown of the United Realms is technically head of state of the tribal nation. However, as stated in the 1905 Constitution, the few powers and responsibilities that accorded to the head of state – which include granting pardons, greeting dignitaries, conferring tribal decorations, issuing symbolic proclamations, and attending tribal festivities – are formally retained by the representative of the Crown, the President of the Mapuche Confederated Tribes, one of the Tribal Chiefs elected by popular vote to serve a two-year term with no set term limit. The only responsibility formally vested to the Crown is attending the inauguration of the president.

Since legislative and executive functions are blended in the Council, each individual councilor is also assigned directorship over an executive department. However, much of the administrative responsibilities are delegated to the assistant directors, who are appointed by and who serve at the will of the respective councilor-directors.

The executive departments of the Mapuche Confederated Tribes are:

Department of Commerce Services – operates the tribal nation’s Small Business Assistance Center, which provides financial support to Mapuche-owned business and promotes cultural tourism

Department of Community Services – provides public transit services, environmental health services, and self-help housing assistance, and constructs road and sanitary sewer infrastructure projects

Department of Education Services – oversees all early childhood development programs, cultural and historical preservation efforts, higher education scholarships, and operates several schools for Mapuche students

Department of Financial Resources – oversees central accounting, budgeting, and acquisition services for the entire government

Department of Government Resources – oversees funds received from the national government, manages all tribal property, and oversees tribal registration

Department of Health and Human Services – provides direct care and community health services, including the operation of health clinics and hospital facilities; provides family assistance programs, child support services, childcare centers, child welfare and protective services, and veterans affairs services

Department of Human Resources – provides centralize personnel management for all employee recruitment and management affairs of the government

Department of Housing Services – operates low-income and elderly rental property for citizens, provides rehabilitation to private homes, provides mortgage assistance to citizens, and provides subsidy for rental properties

Department of Information Systems – provides centralized information technology management for the government

Department of Management Resources – provides centralized support services to the entire government, including facilities management, risk management, natural resources preservation, and long-range planning and development

Other agencies include:

Office of the Attorney General – provides legal advice and representation to the tribal nation and prosecutes violators of tribal law; Principal Tribal Attorneys are nominated by the tribes and appointed by the Attorney General, who is nominated by the legislative bodies of the tribes and elected by the Council to serve a six-year term with no set term limit.

Mapuche Election Commission – regulates tribal elections; its executive board consists of seven members nominated by the legislative bodies of the tribes and elected by the Council to serve staggered four-year terms with no set term limits.

Mapuche Environmental Protection Commission – sets and advises on policies related to environmental protection; its executive board consists of seven members nominated by the legislative bodies of the tribes and elected by the Council to serve staggered four-year terms with no set term limits.

Mapuche Marshal Service – provides full-service law enforcement services to the tribal nation; its director is appointed by the Attorney General with consent of the Council; assistant directors manage area offices and are appointed by the director with consent of the Attorney General.

Mapuche Tax Commission – conducts quasi-judicial hearings on realm and national tax matters; its executive board consists of seven members nominated by the legislative bodies of the tribes and elected by the Council to serve staggered four-year terms with no set term limits.

Each tribe has area offices of the various executive departments and offices (i.e., the Acol Department of Human Resources, the Office of the Vichuquen Principal Tribal Attorney, the Uwa Marshal Service). The department area offices are managed by secretaries who are appointed by their respective councilor-directors.

The judicial branch of the tribal nation includes the four District Courts and Supreme Court, which is comparable to the Supreme Court of the United Realms. The Supreme Court consists of seven justices who are elected by the Council. It is the highest court of the Mapuche Confederated Tribes and oversees internal legal disputes and appeals from the District Courts. The District Courts, whose judges are appointed by the Supreme Court with consent of the Council, hear all appeals from the Tribal Courts. All justices and judges serve six-year, staggered terms with no set term limits.

The central government is in Cuzco.

Tribal governments

Executive

All tribes have a Tribal Chief, who is typically the executive authority. Most of the tribes elect their chiefs to serve six-year terms with no set term limits, although the chiefdom is hereditary in the Carelhue, Moluche, and Uwa Tribes. The powers and responsibilities of the chief also vary between the tribes. In six tribes (the Acol, Carelhue, Huiliches, Moluche, Yunyay, and Vichuquen Tribes), the chief is given almost total administrative authority and a clear, wide range of political independence, with the power to appoint and dismiss department heads without council approval or public input. The chief also prepares and administers the tribal budget, although that budget often must be approved by the council. The chief will also appoint a deputy chief as the chief administrative officer who will supervise department heads, prepare the budget, and coordinate departments. In the Cuzco and Icalma Tribes, the chief – elected alongside the deputy chief – cannot directly appoint or remove officials, with the chief of the latter tribe lacking veto power over council votes.

Like the central governing body of the tribal nation, legislative and executive functions are blended in the Itahue Tribal Council. Thus, the individual councilors are also assigned executive responsibility for a specific department or office; one councilor is elected by his or her colleagues to serve as chairperson, although the councilor typically do not have additional powers over and above the other councilors. The Uwa Tribal Council appoints a governor to oversee the administrative operations, implement its policies, and advise it. As a result, the chiefs of both tribes are largely ceremonial positions.

Legislative

All tribes have a governing body known as a Tribal Council that is responsible for legislative functions such as establishing policy, passing local ordinances, voting appropriations, and developing an overall vision. Most tribes elect councilors from single-member districts, each of which has approximately the same population. In larger tribes, there may be single- and multi-member districts, in which case multi-member districts must have proportionately larger populations, e.g., a district electing two councilors must have approximately twice the population of a district electing just one. The voting systems used across the tribal nation are first-past-the-post in single-member districts, and multiple non-transferable votes in multi-member districts. Most councilors serve four-year terms with no set term limits.

The Itahue Tribe models the Council of Tribes, as legislative and executive functions are blended in its Tribal Council. Thus, the individual councilors are also assigned executive responsibility for a specific department or office. One councilor elected by his or her colleagues to serve as chairperson, although the councilor typically do not have additional powers over and above the other councilors.

Judicial

Each tribe has at least one Tribal Court, with the Cuzco Tribe having six. The tribal judges – typically appointed by the chief (typically with the consent of the Tribal Council) or solely by the Tribal Council – hold jurisdiction over criminal, civil, and family cases in the tribe. Decisions of the Tribal Courts can be appealed to the District Courts. Assigned to each Tribal Court is a Principal Tribal Attorney who prosecutes violators of tribal law; the Tribal Councils – or the chiefs, with the consent of the Tribal Council – present nominees for the Attorney General to appoint with the consent of the Council of Tribes.

The tribes generally lack criminal and civil jurisdiction over nonmembers, although there are exceptions. First, the tribes hold the inherent authority to exercise criminal jurisdiction over noncitizen Mapuche persons, as well as non-Mapuche persons, who commit dating and domestic violence against Mapuche persons within the tribes' jurisdictions. Second, the tribes may exercise civil jurisdiction over noncitizens when the noncitizens have entered private consensual relationships with the tribe or its citizens, provided the conduct at issue relates to the consensual relationship. Third, the tribes may exercise civil jurisdiction over noncitizens when the noncitizens' conduct threatens the integrity of the tribe. Fourth, tribes may exercise jurisdiction over noncitizens when the Congreso Nacional authorizes them to do so. The Supreme Court of the United Realms has also held that defendants in tribal court who challenge a Tribal Court's jurisdiction must exhaust their tribal court remedies (i.e., District Court, Supreme Court) before seeking relief in national court.

Economy

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The Mapuche Confederated Tribes controls Mapuche Business, a holding which owns companies in construction, aerospace and defense, manufacturing, technology, real estate, and healthcare industries. The tribal nation also operates its own housing authority and issues tribal vehicle and boat tags. In recent times, the modern Mapuche Confederated Tribes has experienced an almost unprecedented expansion in economic growth and prosperity for its citizens. The Mapuche Confederated Tribes has significant business, corporate, real estate, and agricultural interests, helping to produce revenue for economic development and welfare.

Culture

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The Mapuche Confederated Tribes appropriates money for historic foundations concerned with the preservation of Mapuche culture, including the Mapuche Heritage Center. It operates living history exhibits including a reconstructed ancient Mapuche village and the Mapuche Family Research Center for genealogy, which is open to the public. The Mapuche Confederated Tribes also hosts festivities in Cuzco each year on We Tripantu (the Mapuche New Year) and Wiñoy Tripantu (the Mapuche celebration of the winter solstice).

Art

The Mapuche Heritage Center operates under the Mapuche National Historical Society, which is governed by a board of trustees. It is home to the Mapuche National Museum, which has numerous exhibitions also open to the public. The Center is the repository for the Mapuche Confederated Tribes as its National Archives.

Health

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The Mapuche Confederated Tribes has constructed health clinics throughout the United Realms, contributed to community development programs, built roads and bridges, constructed learning facilities and universities for its citizens, revitalized language immersion programs for its children and youth, and is a powerful and positive economic and political force in the United Realms.