Relational Ontology in the Mapuche Thinking: Possibilities for Indigenous Well-Being Amidst Colonial Settings.

This article examines the ongoing impacts of colonialism on the Mapuche people, an indigenous group in southern Latin America, focusing on how structural discrimination and displacement have affected their health and well-being, particularly mental health. It highlights the Mapuche relational ontology, which integrates human, natural, and spiritual elements into a holistic concept of health and well-being called küme mongen ("good living"), contrasting with Western biomedical models that dominate health systems. The article critiques Chile's intercultural health policies for often subordinating indigenous perspectives under biomedical hegemony, limiting genuine community participation and perpetuating colonial power dynamics. It underscores the need for culturally competent, dialogical approaches that respect indigenous knowledge and promote equity in health care, while recognizing the complex negotiations indigenous peoples engage in to sustain their identities and well-being within colonial contexts.