Parliament of Las Canoas facts for kids
The Parliament of Las Canoas (Spanish: Parlamento de Las Canoas) was an important meeting held in 1793. It brought together leaders of the Mapuche-Huilliche people and officials from the Spanish. This meeting took place where the Rahue River and Damas River meet, close to the modern city of Osorno.
The meeting was called by Ambrosio O'Higgins, who was the Royal Governor of Chile. He arranged it after the Spanish had stopped an uprising by the Mapuche-Huilliches in 1792. This parliament is very important in history. The agreement signed there allowed the Spanish to rebuild the city of Osorno. It also secured travel routes between Valdivia and Spanish towns near the Chiloé Archipelago.
The Mapuche-Huilliche leaders who signed the agreement recognized the King of Spain as their ruler. However, they kept a lot of control over their own lands. This treaty was special because it was the first time the Mapuche people officially gave up some land to the Spanish.
The Mapuche-Huilliche leaders invited to the parliament were those whose lands would be affected. These leaders included Catrihuala, Iñil, Caniu, Calfuguir, Ancaguir, Colin, Naguinguir, and Pichi Huaiquipan. Messengers from the Cunco, like Paylapan, were also there. Two other important leaders, Juan Queipul and José Antitipay, were not at Las Canoas. They were in Santiago at the time. There, they had a smaller meeting with Ambrosio O'Higgins himself. They discussed the same issues as those at Las Canoas.
Why the Meeting Happened
In the mid-1700s, the Spanish area of Valdivia started to grow. This growth mainly moved south. Most of the time, this expansion happened peacefully. However, there were some fights with the local Huilliche people.
As Valdivia expanded, different groups of people mixed together. Also, Spanish settlers bought land from the native people. Many native landowners then became workers on these lands.
In contrast, the Spanish settlement at the Chiloé Archipelago often had conflicts. These were with the native groups living north of the islands. After Valdivia's growth reached the Bueno River, Spanish leaders wanted to build a road. This road would connect Valdivia with the towns near the Chacao Channel. The Spanish hoped this road would help Valdivia and Chiloé support each other. This was important in case a European country tried to invade.
See also
In Spanish: Parlamento de Las Canoas para niños
