Diana Barrientos is a Chilean graduate student studying Latin American Studies at the Universidad de Chile and is a participant in the Graduate Student Exchange Program (GSEP) at the Department of Geography at the U of C.

In Chile, Barrientos is using her knowledge of Latin American history to understand the current social divide between the non-indigenous and the indigenous population. Her research focuses on the erosion of the identity of indigenous people in urban centres.

Barrientos is impressed with the landmark apology from the Harper government for the mistreatment of First Nations children in residential schools in Canada and would like to see a similar response from the governments in Latin America who have tried to assimilate indigenous populations.

"The main problem for me is acknowledgement. I think Canada has taken a big step-a government can say sorry, but I don't think that any government in Latin America is willing to do it. It's a battle against government," says Barrientos.

Barrientos says the conflict stems from the non-indigenous population's perception of the indigenous population. They're seen as an impediment to the progressive, economic-oriented projects of government and corporations. For previously impoverished nations with large populations, like Chile, the resource-rich land that the indigenous inhabit is ripe for development, however, the ways in which these projects are negotiated-and the indigenous population compensated-leaves them with insufficient infrastructure and education, and forces them into the city. Once there, they're often subject to discrimination in various forms and find themselves alienated from their traditional culture and way of life. 

In Canada, and Alberta, many aboriginal people experience similar hardships, says Barrientos. However, she thinks Canada is more tolerant and responsive as a whole and feels there is a great deal of knowledge and insight she can extract during her time in Canada.

"I think we need to find a way to advance economic priorities and have a good relationship with indigenous people. I'm trying to improve the relations between non-indigenous and indigenous people, but there is no ‘silver bullet'," said Barrientos.

The GSEP is giving Barrientos a chance to further explore the problems that have severed relations, which she hopes will lead to solutions. 

"I want to be the link between people and government. I think this program (GSEP) will open many doors. There will be an excellent response-not immediately, not now, but in 10 years," said Barrientos.

Upon graduation Barrientos would like to continue helping indigenous populations to overcome their identity issues by working with a non-governmental organization.