91
Another Moqoit described the signs that appeared close to the Laguna de la
Virgen, before the Nanaicalo was tamed:
It is said a mild wind blew there, which grew in speed by the minute, with increasing pressure, until a, let’s say, wind with earth, arose and did dust storm (Sixto Lalecorí, Colonia
Cacique Catán, Chaco, 2002).
Other versions speak of a wind that carried snails (Juan Capanci, Colonia Cacique
Catán, Chaco, 2002).
Augusto Soria and Orlando Sánchez also mention the ‘reading’ of the environment
as ‘seña’ in the context of the hostile relations with the criollos.
For the signalling of roads they cut tree branches, that with their tip indicated a single direction, either North, South, East or West; and other signs that indicated the proximity of lakes,
rivers, water sources; while other signs indicated the dangers of ferocious animals and also
the areas guarded by soldiers of the different fortlets controlling the frontier (Sánchez,
2009: 282–283).
We have collected an account that speaks of a Moqoit attempt to return to the south,
to Santa Fe, the place from where many Moqoit got to the Chaco in the early half of
twentieth century, running away from the army. The account shows how an intense
hail was a ‘seña’ that warned the Moqoit to stay in that province.
[The ancients] say that between Santiago [and Santa Fe there is] a kind of ditch, like [a] hole
[…] [which is] a sign… [that the Moqoit] should not cross. They do not cross, neither here
nor there. […] [We] aborigines [have lived] here [in the Southwestern Chaco] since 1917,
when [the grandparents who went from Chaco to Santiago and from there to Santa Fe]
returned […] They returned […] because [they] ran into […] a hail […] Because, these
people […] say that they crossed that [ditch] … and a sign [appeared], like smoke, […] a sign
that they don’t have to go any further, they have to go back [to Santiago]. And […] they
returned … more than a thousand people who [had left] from Chaco [and] were already
arriving in Santa Fe. But since they [found] that … fog or white drizzle […] they hit the road
back. [Because that was a] sign [pointing] they should not move forward. […] There is a …
qu[een] of the earth [a powerful non-human female being]. And […] an aborigine says that
he arrived, talked with that, lady [a powerful non-human], […] the greatest there is […]
[who] sees what is coming. And this aborigine […] [who was like] a guide in front of [the
group that marched to Santa Fe], [and who was himself a person with] power […] went
inside that hole, [where that] lady [powerful non-human] was, [and] conversed [with her].
[She said to him]: well, brother […] there is danger here ahead; […] you have to return […].
And [that is why] they crossed to […] [the] border [area between] Chaco and Santiago […].
And it is said they arrived here after the ‘22 (Marcos Gómez, Cacique Catán, Chaco, 1999)
43
Agustina Altman collected the account of a similar episode:
[When I was young] I went to Hermoso Campo with my family, for work, and the weather
changed there. Everything turned black and an earth storm arose and something similar to
a giant ant appeared. It was the father of the ants,
44 and a ‘warlock’ [pi’xonaq] started to
sing and everything calmed down. Then he told us we had to leave because, if it came back,
it could cover us all with dirt. Candy-sized pebbles fell from the sky (Sixto Lalecorí, Moqoit
from Colonia Cacique Catán, Chaco, 2010).
43 To facilitate understanding, we have simplified repetitions and expressions, without altering
meaning.
44 Chinaq Leta’a, the father or owner of ants.
Signs, Not Phenomena: Moqoit Cosmo-politics and Alternative Experiences…
Another Moqoit described the signs that appeared close to the Laguna de la
Virgen, before the Nanaicalo was tamed:
It is said a mild wind blew there, which grew in speed by the minute, with increasing pressure, until a, let’s say, wind with earth, arose and did dust storm (Sixto Lalecorí, Colonia
Cacique Catán, Chaco, 2002).
Other versions speak of a wind that carried snails (Juan Capanci, Colonia Cacique
Catán, Chaco, 2002).
Augusto Soria and Orlando Sánchez also mention the ‘reading’ of the environment
as ‘seña’ in the context of the hostile relations with the criollos.
For the signalling of roads they cut tree branches, that with their tip indicated a single direction, either North, South, East or West; and other signs that indicated the proximity of lakes,
rivers, water sources; while other signs indicated the dangers of ferocious animals and also
the areas guarded by soldiers of the different fortlets controlling the frontier (Sánchez,
2009: 282–283).
We have collected an account that speaks of a Moqoit attempt to return to the south,
to Santa Fe, the place from where many Moqoit got to the Chaco in the early half of
twentieth century, running away from the army. The account shows how an intense
hail was a ‘seña’ that warned the Moqoit to stay in that province.
[The ancients] say that between Santiago [and Santa Fe there is] a kind of ditch, like [a] hole
[…] [which is] a sign… [that the Moqoit] should not cross. They do not cross, neither here
nor there. […] [We] aborigines [have lived] here [in the Southwestern Chaco] since 1917,
when [the grandparents who went from Chaco to Santiago and from there to Santa Fe]
returned […] They returned […] because [they] ran into […] a hail […] Because, these
people […] say that they crossed that [ditch] … and a sign [appeared], like smoke, […] a sign
that they don’t have to go any further, they have to go back [to Santiago]. And […] they
returned … more than a thousand people who [had left] from Chaco [and] were already
arriving in Santa Fe. But since they [found] that … fog or white drizzle […] they hit the road
back. [Because that was a] sign [pointing] they should not move forward. […] There is a …
qu[een] of the earth [a powerful non-human female being]. And […] an aborigine says that
he arrived, talked with that, lady [a powerful non-human], […] the greatest there is […]
[who] sees what is coming. And this aborigine […] [who was like] a guide in front of [the
group that marched to Santa Fe], [and who was himself a person with] power […] went
inside that hole, [where that] lady [powerful non-human] was, [and] conversed [with her].
[She said to him]: well, brother […] there is danger here ahead; […] you have to return […].
And [that is why] they crossed to […] [the] border [area between] Chaco and Santiago […].
And it is said they arrived here after the ‘22 (Marcos Gómez, Cacique Catán, Chaco, 1999)
43
Agustina Altman collected the account of a similar episode:
[When I was young] I went to Hermoso Campo with my family, for work, and the weather
changed there. Everything turned black and an earth storm arose and something similar to
a giant ant appeared. It was the father of the ants,
44 and a ‘warlock’ [pi’xonaq] started to
sing and everything calmed down. Then he told us we had to leave because, if it came back,
it could cover us all with dirt. Candy-sized pebbles fell from the sky (Sixto Lalecorí, Moqoit
from Colonia Cacique Catán, Chaco, 2010).
43 To facilitate understanding, we have simplified repetitions and expressions, without altering
meaning.
44 Chinaq Leta’a, the father or owner of ants.
Signs, Not Phenomena: Moqoit Cosmo-politics and Alternative Experiences…