DISPUTAS POR EL GOBIERNO DE INDíGENAS EN LA ANTIGUA COMISARíA DEL VAUPéS, 1960-1968

the aim of this paper is to analyze the struggles off the ways to govern the indigenous peoples of the comisaría del vaupés (colombia). these struggles are approached by the analysis of the dispute about indigenous work regulation that took place between rubber businessmen, local government employees, and catholic missionaries in the context of rubber exploitations between 1960 and 1970. the argument is made from the analysis of archival sources and it is presented in three sections. in the first one i expose the rubber businessmen arguments to justify the relevance of their industry for both the region's economic development and the "civilization" of native populations. in the second section i reconstruct the main arguments of those social actors struggle over indigenous people hiring. finally, the article closes with the analysis of the declaration de miraflores, a statement published in colombian national press by the catholic missionaries to denounce rubber businessmen abuses in the region.