“Man adapts to everything”: territory and paths of indigenous subordinate incorporation in La Pampa. The case of José Gregorio Yankamil, 1900-1980

Abstract

The military campaigns between 1879 and 1885 ended with the independent existence of indigenous peoples of Pampa and north-Patagonia, causing a profound social disruption. Nevertheless, since late nineteenth century some groups were able to regroup around certain leaders and obtained official allocations of land where they could settle down. The patterns of incorporation to the nation-state developed by indigenous people are studied in this paper through an Indian family -the Yankamil, resident of “Lot 21” adjacent to Colonia Emilio Mitre in La Pampa province- who obtained ownership of the land where their members had lived for years. Covering the period of 1900-1980, the analysis reveals how this family took advantage ofa social capital, in terms of economy and relationships, obtaining a favorable position when negotiating for land, at a propitious national and provincial context.