Fighting is teaching: activism, teaching and perspectives on plurilingual education from the lands of Chaco

In Chaco, Argentina, indigenous communities have advanced in the development of bilingual education. Yet, the purpose of bilingual education remains contested. This study argues that bilingual teachers link two agendas – teaching and revitalization – and two roles – educator and linguistic-cultural activist to challenge the official view on bilingual education. In this article, we present 3 cases in which indigenous teachers exercise agency by acting from outside educational institutions to promote alternative ideologies of bilingualism and knowledge distribution. Based on collaborative projects with Wichi and Qom educators, the article discusses local actions as well as the broader implications for education in indigenous contexts.