Lola Kiepja facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lola Kiepja
|
|
|---|---|
Lola Kiepja illustrated in her youth, from the book Los onas (1910), by Carlos Gallardo.
|
|
| Born | c. 1874 |
| Died | 9 October 1966 (aged c. 92) Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
|
| Occupation | Religious shaman |
| Spouse(s) | Anik (died c. 1915) |
| Children | 12 |
Lola Kiepja (born around 1874 – died 9 October 1966) was a Selk'nam shaman. She was known as "the last Ona" or "the last Selk'nam". This was because she was the last person of Selk'nam background who grew up fully in their traditional community. She learned their way of life, customs, religion, and language.
The very last person of full Selk'nam background was Ángela Loij. She was from Chile and passed away in 1974.
Contents
Who Was Lola Kiepja?
Early Life and Family
Lola was born around 1874. Her parents were Ket and Ejih, a Selk'nam couple. They lived on the Tierra del Fuego island. This island is now shared by the governments of Chile and Argentina.
Her maternal grandfather, Alaken, was a respected shaman. He was also a historian. People knew him for his vast knowledge of their ancient stories. Two of Lola's uncles on her mother's side were also shamans.
Family and Challenges
Lola had seven children with her first husband, Anik. He was a haush man. Anik was hurt during a time of conflict for the Selk'nam people. This injury stopped Lola from completing her training to become a shaman.
Anik passed away around 1915. After his death, Lola married a man from Chile. She had five more children with him. Sadly, all of her children died before she did. When Lola passed away, her only living family were a granddaughter and a great-grandson. She spent her adult life living on a special area for indigenous people near Lake Fagnano.
Preserving Selk'nam Culture
Recording Selk'nam Traditions
In 1964, an American expert named Anne Chapman visited Tierra del Fuego. She was an ethnologist, someone who studies cultures. Chapman wanted to record Selk'nam traditions and songs. Lola Kiepja shared her stories and songs with Chapman.
Chapman learned about Lola Kiepja from a French archaeologist. This archaeologist told Chapman how important it was to record Lola's knowledge. Lola was seen as a vital link to the Selk'nam past.
Lola's Songs and Legacy
Anne Chapman used a tape recorder to capture Lola Kiepja's songs. Many of these recordings were later released. They became part of a two-album series. This series was produced by the anthropology museum Musée de l'Homme in Paris. The albums were titled Selk'nam chants of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
These recordings are now available online for everyone to hear. In 2018, the recordings were improved and re-released in Spanish. Lola Kiepja's voice helps keep the Selk'nam culture alive for future generations.
Final Years
In the winter of 1966, Lola became very sick. She was taken to the Rio Grande Regional Hospital. This happened even though she had said she did not want to leave her home. She passed away three days later, on 9 October 1966.
