Caleta Buill, derived from the Chesungún word huilli, meaning “Southern Cove,” is a small village located on the Comao (Huequi) Peninsula in Chile’s Los Lagos Region. It is home to the Buill Indigenous community.
For generations, the community has sustained itself through traditional knowledge and cultural practices, including cultivation, fishing, and gathering, while carefully preserving the natural resources they depend on.
According to Mapuche tradition, the Ngen are spiritual guardians created at the beginning of the world and entrusted with protecting the land. People may only enter the domain of a Ngen with respect, asking permission, giving thanks, and offering reciprocity. When this balance is broken, the consequences are seen in declining harvests, diminished fishing, and the departure of the Ngen.
Today, many of these spirits have been driven away by unchecked greed, disrespect, and industrial policies that damage both ecosystems and Indigenous beliefs. In response, the Mapuche people fought to establish legal protections that safeguard the last remaining healthy ecosystems.
This documentary follows their ongoing struggle to protect their lands, natural resources, cultural knowledge, economy, and spiritual traditions, ensuring they endure for future generations.
Will they succeed?
