# Indigenous rights and land disputes in Chile and Guatemala > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/indigenous-rights-and-land-disputes-in-chile-and-guatemala > Updated: 2026-08-15T11:41:02.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. In Chile, indigenous Mapuche communities are engaging in efforts to preserve cultural heritage and defend ancestral lands. The National Corporation for Indigenous Development (CONADI) has funded five projects in Villarrica to protect sites of spiritual, historical, and environmental significance through collaborative initiatives with local municipalities and various Mapuche communities. However, tensions have emerged in the La Araucanía Region, where Mapuche communities in the Bajo Malleco area are protesting a large-scale sanitary landfill located on their ancestral territory. Spokesperson Rodrigo Curipán stated that the facility was installed without the consent of the indigenous population, leading to claims of irreversible environmental, cultural, and spiritual damage. Local leaders allege that the project bypassed legislation and that environmental impact studies contained irregularities regarding the protection of wetlands and water sources. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-15: Mapuche communities protest landfill on ancestral territory in Chile Mapuche communities in Chile's La Araucanía Region are fighting a large-scale landfill on ancestral lands, alleging lack of consultation and irreversible environmental and cultural damage. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mapuche-communities-protest-landfill-on-ancestral-territory-in-chile ### 2026-08-10: Indigenous communities in Chile and Guatemala pursue cultural and legal protections Indigenous communities in Chile are receiving funding to preserve Mapuche cultural sites, while authorities in Guatemala have filed a legal injunction to block a controversial energy infrastructure law. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indigenous-communities-in-chile-and-guatemala-pursue-cultural-and-legal-protections --- Cite as: Indigenous rights and land disputes in Chile and Guatemala. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/indigenous-rights-and-land-disputes-in-chile-and-guatemala