Machi (Shaman)

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A Machi is a shaman or (usually) a good witch in the Mapuche culture of South America. They are spiritual leaders and function as: witch-doctors, curanderos, and/or herbalists. The term is sometimes interchangeable with the word Kalku, however Kalku has a usually evil connotation whereas Machi has a usually righteous connotation, however this is not true in every circumstance as the terms are even sometimes mutually interchangeable. The Mapuches live in southern South America mostly in central Chile (Los Lagos) and the adjacent areas of Argentina.

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