Women from Chanavayita honor local tradition of making tin flowers

During the nitrates era, a local funeral tradition developed that involved honoring the dead by laying wreaths of tin flowers. In an effort to honor this colorful art and convey its importance to new generations, SQM and Agrupación Puzzle held the “Floristas de la Pampa” workshop in the fishing village of Chanavayita. Twenty members of the women’s group Mujeres del Mar took part in the event focused on this local tradition.

The initiative was led by four women from Pozo Almonte who have kept this art alive for years. SQM’s Head of Community Relations Gary Mérida noted that, “In addition to honoring local traditions, this activity encourages women to actively participate in local development, building networks among women from neighboring villages and creating shared value in communities. This reflects the ‘Our People’ aspect of our corporate sustainability plan, which is associated with a series of environmental targets and commitments.”

The knowledge shared during the events also points to using recyclable material, and thus contributes to the village’s environment and ecosystem while allowing the women to decorate the pavilion in Chanavayita. Workshop participant Ángela Petruzzi, who is also a member of the local group for older adults Círculo de Adultos Mayores de Chanavayita, explained, “I’m from northern Chile, and I have always seen them at cemeteries in inland communities. They have bright colors and interesting shapes. I signed up as soon as I found out they were coming to teach us how to make them. The material we need is easy to find, and we can contribute to recycling efforts and decorate public spaces with them.”

Betty Santander, the President of Centro Social y Cultural Proyección Puzzle de Pozo Almonte, added, “This activity is part of a cultural exchange with Mujeres del Mar, a local group. We wanted to hold it in-person while respecting all of the necessary public health protocols. This technique was used in funeral art, mainly in abandoned cemeteries in the pampa. But we realized that the flowers could have value and adorn public spaces right here, particularly given the lack of flora in our area. These flowers make us happy, add color and represent the strength of our people.”

Finally, workshop participant Elcira Espinoza, a member of the San Pablo de Chanavayita Neighborhood Council, noted that pampa traditions are being passed down to new generations. She added, “Using this technique allows us to reduce pollution. We can’t have many natural plants here because of the weather and salinity, so this is a great way to decorate and give life to our spaces.”

The connection between the women from Agrupación Puzzle and residents of Chanavayita was based on the visibility that this collective gained by holding workshops and participating in heritage presentations in the Tarapacá Region. The women from the fishing village heard about their work through those events and asked them if they could give a workshop.