BUENOS AIRES // In a cluttered office in one of the poorest suburbs in Buenos Aires, Eulogio Frites is helping Argentina face up to its past treatment of its indigenous population. "These files on my desk represent the potential for massive social and cultural awakening," Mr Frites said. "They represent justice for all Argentinians." Mr Frites, 73, was the first "native" to get a law degree in 1979 and has been campaigning for indigenous rights "every minute since then". Now there are 20 lawyers of indigenous descent with Mr Frites, leading the battle for land rights and compensation. Mr Frites' work has been generating considerable interest ahead of next year's 200th anniversary of independence from Spain as recent research shows that indigenous blood runs deeply through Argentinian veins. "Legally, we are better organised than ever. We have thousands of cases pending in the courts. I think we will win them all but even if we just win a fraction then Argentina will be a different country. The indigenous people will be compensated, get back at least some of their land, but more importantly they will have their dignity restored," he said. "Indigenous people used to be ashamed of their past, they were made to feel ashamed. That is changing. It is about pride in our heritage, not just money." The arrival of eight million immigrants from Europe in the half-century between 1870 and 1915 led to a scramble for land and the slaughter of the indigenous population in successive military campaigns to make room for settlers. Debate about the country's ethnic composition has not been part of mainstream politics but that is undergoing a dramatic shift as the courts recognise indigenous rights. Cristina Kirchner, the president, has appealed for a "national agreement" to mark the anniversary that cuts across party lines and incorporates all Argentinians. "Last year in the north-western province of Salta we had a major breakthrough. The provincial government allowed oil companies to explore on native land. We took the government to court and won. We are now getting legal backing for native rights and the cases on my desk and in the office are similar to Salta. A precedent has been set," Mr Frites said. But he is quick to point out that despite recent court successes, indigenous people "still face discrimination, death, misery and lack of opportunity". "We want Argentina to acknowledge we are part of the society, not some strange reminder of another era. That day is coming but it is not here yet." There are about 14 ethnic groups in Argentina, the biggest include the Tobas, Coyas, Mapuches, Guaranies, Wichies, Moscovies, Pilagas, Tehuelches and Onas. With difficulty, he recounts his own experience of what he describes as "second-class citizenhood". "When I was 10, I had to work with my father in the sugar cane plantations. At that age I was put under contract to work 20 per cent of my father's assignment. As I grew older I was contracted to do more. It was like slavery. There are places where this still happens." The battle for legal redress to compensate for centuries of oppression and marginalisation is taking place not just in Argentina but throughout the Americas, Mr Frites said. "From Canada in the north right down to Tierra del Fuego in the south, the indigenous communities are getting organised and becoming aware of their rights and heritage." But many Argentinians, who generally consider themselves of European origin, are closer to the indigenous people than they may realise. A blood data bank, set up initially to reunite children of the "disappeared" during the Dirty War with their relatives, has shown unexpected results. The DNA research has revealed that 56 per cent of Argentinians have at least partly indigenous blood. From 1992 to 2004, the DNA of 12,000 people in 11 provinces was analysed. As well as noting that only 44 per cent of the population were of European origin, it concluded that 10 per cent were of purely indigenous descent. Since Argentina has a population of about 36 million, this suggests that more than 20m people are of indigenous origin, with 3.6m pure Indians. About 16m, far fewer than previously estimated, can trace their ancestry back solely to Europe. These findings contradict what most Argentines believe to be their country's ethnic make-up, and suggest that its indigenous heritage is shared by more than just the country's "native" population. tclifford@thenational.ae