From Luciferinos to canonizables. Representations of Chiriguan's cannibalism

Abstract

The first Conquistadores sketched Tupí-Guaraní and particularly Chririguano cannibalism from a dreadful point of view according to their own values and references, and also to their Conquest interests. During the following centuries the Chiriguano image changed considerably, and even assumed a positive tone. Nowadays several authors and particularly indigenous intellectuals deny historical reality to Chiriguano cannibalism. The paper argues that these authors share the same mental frames, representations and biases of earlier Conquistadores.