It is estimated that there are total of 600,329 native persons living in Argentina (INDEC, 2007) from more than 30 different indigenous groups scattered across the country’s provinces. These groups include the Mapuche, Kolla, Toba, Wichí, Mocoví, Pilagá, Guaraní, Chiriguano, Chané, Chulupí, Chorote, Tapiete, Tehuelche, Diaguita, Calchaquí, Huarpe and Ona, the majority of which live in communities on rural settlements. They account for approximately 3% to 5% of the country’s total population, but in some provinces, the indigenous population is between 17% and 25%.
In colonial times, the Crown signed treaties or parliaments with various “Indian nations” in the pampas, treaties that were unheard of starting in the mid 19th century after the “Conquest of the Desert” war. In 1994, Argentina modified its constitution of 1853, introducing important advances in the rights of indigenous peoples, such as recognition of the pre-existence of indigenous peoples, the right to consultation and participation in decisions that affect them, respect for identity; the right to bilingual and intercultural education; recognition of the legal status of indigenous communities; as well as communal possession and ownership of their traditional lands. Argentina ratified Convention No. 169 in 2000.
The ILO has supported some training activities to aid in the effective application of Convention No. 169, in particular in the area of right to consultation and participation.