Professor Felzensztein (left) with Mapuche leaders Rosa Currimil and Jaime Huincahue.
Mapuche leaders from Chile visited Massey University earlier this month, after attending the World Indigenous Forum in Rotorua.
The leaders’ visit was hosted by Professor Christian Felzensztein, who holds the position of dean´s chair in strategy within the School of Management. Professor Felzenstein met with the Mapuche delegates, ambassadors and Chilean politicians attending the Forum.
Professor Felzensztein says that successful Mapuche small businesses often rely on projects initiated by government organisations. Even though the Chilean government is making efforts to revitalise the region, there is an on-going exodus as younger Mapuche leave to find jobs in Santiago.
He suggests policy makers should ensure that benefits derived from economic and political development are available to indigenous entrepreneurs as early as practicable. Such benefits are not limited to direct financial support. Rather, opportunities to gain experience by working and networking outside the local region, or even in international contexts, may be more important, making initiatives like the World Indigenous Forum and the Memorandum of Understanding between Chilean universities and Massey recently established are important.
Professor Felzensztein is involved in a research project for enhancing indigenous entrepreneurship in southern Chile.