History and Conversion: the Evangelio Among The Mocoví of Southwest Chaco

Abstract

In the late 70’s a movement known as Evangelio began to gain relevance among Mocoví communities, first in the province of Chaco and later among communities located in Santa Fe. Our research aims to reconstruct the historical conformation of the Evangelio field among the Mocoví of Southwest Chaco. In order to better understand the mechanisms involved in this process, we analyze the specific modes of conversion to the Evangelio adopted by this aboriginal group. The analysis of native patterns shows that -in different areas- the Mocoví deploy a contextual and strategic notion of membership. This same logic, which enables them to play with symbolic ambiguity, permeates the ideas of “being in the Evangelio” or not.