The Pursuit of Well-Being in the Midst of Climate Change: Reflections from Mapuche Youth and the Embodiment of Küme Mongen

Indigenous youth, alongside their communities, are not only contending with the impacts of climate change but also facing direct threats to their mental health and well-being. Many of them have been denied access to the traditional knowledge that empowers their Peoples to strengthen resilience, a knowledge closely associated with the concept of Buen Vivir (Good Living) in Latin America. This chapter explores how Mapuche youth are striving to revitalise the principles and values of Küme Mongen (Buen Vivir) in the context of climate change. The numerous historical and ongoing disruptions affecting the Mapuche People pose significant barriers to re-establishing balance and embodying Küme Mongen. Nevertheless, there is an urgent need to enact its principles and values today. This practice offers a pathway to overcome the despair exacerbated by the climate crisis and to find hope through participation in a collective project.