THE “GENTILE” DISEASE AND THE AYMARA MEMBERS OF SOME EVANGELICAL CHURCHES FROM THE ARICA-PARINACOTA REGION (CHILE) ¿RECIPROCITY WITH THE LOCAL TERRITORY OR NATURALISTIC VISIONS?

A scarcity, of local anthropological studies of indigenous Aymara traditional medicine in Chile on the concepts of health and disease, especially about the chullpas (gentiles) disease, is pointed out. Very few studies relate the continuity or change in the medical representations and practices of Aymara residents or medical specialists from rural communities converted to Evangelical churches concerning this disease. This article aims to analyze the presence of naturalistic or reciprocal notions in the perception of the landscape in Evangelical Aymara subjects about the chullpas. A case study methodology, in-depth interview techniques, and observant participation in Aymara communities were employed. The conclusions are not uniform, indicating the co-existence of persistence and rupture with the notions of reciprocity with the territory in representations and practices of evangelical Aymara medical specialists and other rural evangelical subjects.