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Historic moment in Chile as Mapuche woman elected president of Constituent Convention
Indigenous Mapuche Constituent Assembly representative Elisa Loncon, left, talks after she was elected president of the Constituent Assembly during the inaugural session of the Constitutional Convention

CHILE’S indigenous population is celebrating a historic victory after the election of a Mapuche woman as president of the country’s Constitutional Convention at its first session on Sunday.

Elisa Loncon won 96 votes in the second round of voting among the 155-member assembly tasked with drafting a new constitution for the South American country.

“Indigenous women are a fundamental part of the refoundation of the country. We were always the last in history. Today, we are reborn together. Thanks to the women of all peoples,” she said.

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