Alberto Achacaz Walakial facts for kids
Alberto Achacaz Walakial (born around 1929 – died August 4, 2008) was a man from Chile. He was one of the very last full-blooded members of the Kaweskar people. The Kaweskar are also known as the Alacaluf or Halakwulup. They are an indigenous (native) group from Chilean Patagonia.
After Achacaz's death in 2008, only about a dozen full-blooded Kaweskars were left. Sadly, there are no Kaweskar women of child-bearing age remaining. This means the Kaweskar people are facing the risk of disappearing as a distinct group.
Alberto Achacaz lived in a simple home. He had lived alone since his wife passed away in 1999. He made a living by creating small canoes from sea lion skins. He also earned money by weaving traditional baskets.
Alberto Achacaz's Final Days
In late June 2008, Achacaz was taken to a hospital in Punta Arenas, Chile. He was very unwell when he arrived. He was admitted to the intensive care unit.
Alberto Achacaz Walakial passed away on August 4, 2008. He died at the hospital in Punta Arenas. Local Chilean newspapers reported his death. Official documents said he was 79 years old. However, some people thought he might have been closer to 90.
About the Kaweskar People
The Kaweskar people were often called the "Nomads of the Sea." They are also known as the Alacaluf. For a long time, the Kaweskar traditionally lived on their canoes. They traveled through the channels of southern Patagonia.
They were hunter-gatherers, meaning they hunted animals and gathered plants for food. Their diet mainly included sea birds and seafood. It is believed that their nomadic way of life lasted for about 6,000 years.
The Kaweskars did not start living in settled villages until the mid-1900s. They began to settle in and around the small village of Villa Puerto Edén. This village is located on Wellington Island.
The Kaweskar people are facing a challenge to keep their culture alive. As their remaining full-blooded members get older, their distinct group is at risk. Since Europeans arrived, Chile has lost five of its original fourteen native tribes.
See also
In Spanish: Alberto Achacaz Walakial para niños
