Abstract

Pehuenche people value their independence and freedom very deeply, a fact that has been noted in several ethnographies. This sense of independence and freedom is fostered from a very young age through the reluctance of parents to give their children detailed instructions and the praise of personal initiative. However, the desire to be free clashes often with the need to collaborate with others in the community, and presents a potential source of tension with the fulfilment of kinship obligations. Therefore, children must learn to balance their quest for independence with their ability to show respect for their elders and engage in productive relations with their peers. One of the ways Pehuenche people deal with these tensions is through hosting. In my field site in southern Chile, people spend a lot of time and resources engaging in daily visiting and hosting with family and friends as a way to strengthen relations, exchange goods and information, and spend time together.