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First Peoples: The New Space Offering Exclusive Southern Products at Casacostanera

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The store aims to bring people closer to the traditions and culture of rural communities in the south, following fair trade principles and respecting traditions passed down through generations. Inaugurated this Wednesday, First Peoples features products from 18 ventures across different localities in the Biobío and Araucanía regions.

Santiago, December 2022.- Only Nancy Epulef, from the town of Malalche in the commune of Cholchol, knows how to make Mapuche chief blankets. Each one takes her nearly a month of work, and she is literally the only woman in Chile who still masters this craft. That’s why the artisan is teaching the technique to her daughter, ensuring the art doesn’t disappear once she’s gone.
Like Nancy, many artisans in the south of the country dedicate their lives to preserving traditions, crafts, and ancestral techniques passed down through generations. Scaling the commercialization of their products is one of the missions of First Peoples, a space launched this Wednesday at Casacostanera, showcasing the original creations of 18 entrepreneurs from various localities in the Biobío and Araucanía regions. “As a Mapuche woman, I’m very proud to be here,” says Nancy, visibly moved.
Blankets, rugs, jams, jewelry, handbags, lamps, and objects made of clay or wood are some of the products available in the new space.
Over 150 people attended the store’s inauguration—a collaboration between CMPC and Consorcio—where they learned firsthand the stories of each creator behind the displayed products. Attendees included Vitacura’s mayor, Camila Merino; CMPC’s president, Luis Felipe Gazitúa; the company’s general manager, Francisco Ruiz-Tagle; part of Consorcio’s executive team, led by Patricio Parodi; and representatives from the Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Heritage.
The store aims to be a single brand that guarantees quality, authenticity, and a connection to the same territory. Most products are original limited editions, crafted by individuals whose stories can be found on each label.
This is the case for Luis Vásquez, who learned to prepare honey from an early age—a product he now offers at First Peoples. “I’ve worked with honey my whole life; I learned from my grandfather at seven. Being here is a dream come true; I never imagined it,” he says. Vásquez explains he has different honey varieties. The one he offers at First Peoples is made from radal, a shrub that grows in the foothills. “The product has a delicious flavor and a great color,” he shares.
Every piece at First Peoples has a known author, a story, and is characterized by its harmony with the environment. Additionally, this new space operates under fair trade principles, supporting small producers through an ethical, solidarity-based, and equitable system that helps their businesses become self-sufficient. This framework helps them compete with large-scale industries.
Ana Paula Navarro Huenchuleo is another entrepreneur at First Peoples. Through her brand Piuke Malen, she crafts woven textiles, leatherwork, and ñocha (a plant used in traditional crafts). Her creations have even reached countries like the U.S., Canada, and the UAE. “My idea is to innovate while preserving the technique of each process. I’ve been working on my project in Cañete for 10 years and have held exhibitions in Temuco and Concepción, highlighting themes like the reclamation of ñocha and preserving Mapuche traditions. Everything is 100% handmade and unique—none of my pieces have ever repeated in all these years,” she explains.
Some of the woven textiles available are part of the Kuifi Kimün initiative, a project that promotes this craft and values the work of the women who practice it. Previously, these products were available directly, online, or at Fibra Local in Temuco—a space showcasing and selling hundreds of items from local entrepreneurs and creators. With this new store, these products can now also be purchased in Santiago.
CMPC’s president, Luis Felipe Gazitúa, stated that First Peoples is a project the company has long aspired to. “We’ve supported entrepreneurs and artisans for many years. We know their struggles and the difficulty they face in selling their products in the market. They end up selling items filled with love, dedication, and culture at low prices, which discourages the continuation of these crafts. This store will present them with a tremendous challenge, but I’m sure it will be a sales success,” said Gazitúa.
First Peoples is located on the ground floor of Casacostanera (Av. Nueva Costanera 3900, Vitacura) and will operate continuously from Monday to Sunday, between 10:00 AM and 8:30 PM.