Lidia González

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is González and the second or maternal family name is Calderón.

Lidia González
Member of the Constitutional Convention of Chile
In office July 4, 2021 – July 4, 2022
Preceded by	office established
Succeeded by	office abolished
Constituency	Yagán at-large
Councillor of Cabo de Hornos
In office December 6, 2008 – December 6, 2016
Personal details
Born	Lidia Cristina González Calderón (1967-04-27) 27 April 1967 (age 57) Puerto Montt, Chile
Nationality	Yahgan people
Parent	Cristina Calderón (mother)
Occupation	Politician

Lidia Cristina González Calderón (born 1967) is a Yaghan (or Yámana) politician in Chile. González is a former city council member in Cabo de Hornos and previously served at the helm of the National Corporation for Indigenous Development (CONADI) in Antártica Chilena Province. In 2021, González was elected to represent the Yaghan nation in the Chilean Constitutional Convention, which grants the indigenous nation a reserved seat.^[1]

González is the daughter of Cristina Calderón, who was the last living full-blooded Yaghan person from 2005 until her death in 2022.^[2]

Early life and background

González was born in 1967 in Puerto Montt, Los Lagos Region to Cristina Calderón and Teodosio González, the youngest of ten daughters. She moved with her parents to Cabo de Hornos as a child, and attended a boarding school to receive her education. Calderón has stated she suffered discrimination for her indigenous background from an early age, and as an adult would be inspired to learn traditional Yaghan basketry.^[3] In 1996, González formed the "Ukika Family Ethnic Garden" in Puerto Williams, Magallanes Region.^[4]

Political career

In 2008, González mounted a candidacy to serve as a city councilmember in Cabo de Hornos. González ran as an independent with the support of the centre-left Concertación alliance, and was elected with 7.62% of votes cast. Following her election, González became the first member of the Yaghan nation to hold elected office in Chile. In 2012, González stood for reelection and was returned to office after receiving 4.95% of votes cast.^[5]

Beginning in 2012, González would work in the Office for the Promotion and Information of Indigenous Rights, and would later run the National Corporation for Indigenous Development (CONADI) in her home region.^[6][7]

In 2019, González participated in a series of protests on Navarino Island against the proposed arrival of salmon fishing companies seeking to fish in surrounding waters. Following months of protest, the campaign to prevent further commercial fishing in the area was successful.^[8]

Constitutional Convention

In 2021, González was elected to the Constitutional Convention as the representative of the Yaghan nation, for which the body has reserved a seat. González was the sole candidate in the race, and was elected with 91.04% of the votes cast.^[9]

References

1. "Los candidatos indígenas que estarán en la Convención Constitucional". pauta (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-07-17.
2. "Yagana woman seeks to preserve language through dictionary". The Star of Arica.
3. "SIGPA - Lidia Cristina González Calderón". www.sigpa.cl. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
4. "Revista JUNJI de Magallanes N° 1". Issuu. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
5. "Candidate History - Participation in elections and results since 1989" (Search: "LIDIA CRISTINA GONZALEZ CALDERON")". Candidatos.
6. "CONADI abrió nueva oficina de atención a indígenas en la Provincia Antártica Chilena". elpinguino.com. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
7. "Conadi abre nueva oficina de atención a indígenas en la Provincia Antártica". La Tercera. 2012-05-13. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
8. "Todo queda en familia: La historia detrás del escaño para el pueblo yagán". The Clinic - Reportajes, noticias, podcast, videos y humor (in Spanish). 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
9. "Lidia González, la única candidata mujer yagán a la Convención: "El interés está en quienes quieren tener un poco de voz"". Emol (in Spanish). 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2021-07-17.