Objective:

to analyze the traditional practices and the contextual factors that influence well-being, from the perception of people lickan-antay (atacameñas).

Methods:

Qualitative study, descriptive design, with intentional sampling by snowball. Semistructured interviews were applied, analyzing the discourses of 16 lickan-antay from different communities of northern Chile.

Results:

Traditional medicine from a holistic approach, likewise, traditional lickan-antay rituals and festivals were perceived as practices that favor individual and collective well-being in this ethnic group. In as much, the neoliberal, capitalist and extractive context, that breaks in its traditional way of life, is perceived like negative for the present and future well-being, and even in the survival of this original town.

Conclusions:

A process of cultural vindication of the lickan-antay that challenges the western hegemony culture is evident. In this context, it is necessary to install a model of attention and care in the Lickan-Antay communities, which respects and relieves the way of knowing, doing and being of this ethnic group.