Weichafe

{{Short description|Mapuche warrior}} A '''weichafe''' is a Mapuche warrior.<ref name=Alvarado1996>{{Cite journal|title=Weichafe: el guerrero mapuche. Caracterización y definición del rol del guerrero en la guerra de Arauco (1536-1656)|journal=Revísta de Historia Indígena|url=https://revistahistoriaindigena.uchile.cl/index.php/RHI/article/view/40255/41810|last=Alvarado P.|first=Margarita|volume=1|pages=35–54|publisher=Universidad de Chile|year=1996|language=Spanish}}</ref> Among Mapuche communities in Lumaco and Traiguén weichafes play an important role in nguillatun by ritualistically representing the weichan or combat of the winds prior to harvest.<ref name=Alvarado1996/> The role of the weichafe is associated with the attributes of strength and austerity.<ref name=Alvarado1996/> 17th century Jesuit missionary Diego de Rosales described weichafes as robust, agile and hardy.<ref name=Alvarado1996/>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{mapuche}}

Category:Mapuche culture