Orlando Carriqueo

former Werken (Messenger) of the Coordination of the Tehuelche Parliament of Rio Negro

Orlando Carriqueo Pignen is a leading voice and the former Werken (Messenger) of the Coordination of the Tehuelche Parliament of Rio Negro. He is originally from the Elel Quimun Mapuche community, currently located in Fiske Menuco, known today as General Roca, but was born in Valcheta, which was Argentina’s first concentration camp on Mapuche territory during the “Desert Campaign” in 1879.

The Coordination of the Mapuche-Tehuelche Parliament of Rio Negro is an organization representing the communities of the province of Rio Negro, which includes 164 communities. A large number of these communities meet annually in a Parliament that appoints leaders and representatives to carry out their functions. The Parliament’s Coordination Office, divided into 4 regions, comprises eighteen members, including 16 political representatives and 2 werken.