“El hombre es tierra que anda”. The transhumant crianceros of Alto Neuquén in historical perspective, XIX-XX centuries

Abstract

The article is the result of a historical investigation whose purpose is the diachronic analysis of the transhumant breeders of Alto Neuquén, their characteristics, conflicts and historical evolution. Taking as a starting point, the criticism of the current romantic celebration of the crianceros from the political and media discourses, the writing proposes to deconstruct the process of constitution of this practice, restoring the historicity of its transformations, permanences and litigations with the instituted political power.

The writing stops at key milestones of the historical itinerary of this social, economic and cultural secular practice, as an activity that implies cyclical movements of ascent and descent of the crianceros and their animals, between the lowlands, where the "invernadas" are located and the highlands of the Cordillera de los Andes and the Cordillera del Viento, where the "veranadas" are located. The article shows how transhumant shepherds (historical products of a complex hybridization indigenous, Creole and Chilean) skillfully overcame various challenges that questioned their survival, in a parable that placed them from a place of mistrust, until today, be the object of a strong public invocation from the perspective of cultural heritage.