The article analyzes and documents the experience of the Auquenidos y Pieles Finas Experimental Station located in the Misitune cattle ranch in the Chilean highlands, as an early reference of ways to approach the development of indigenous communities in the Chilean border region (Department of Arica) from the second half of the 20th century in contexts of economic development paradigms. Its link with the developmental paradigm promoted by the action of the Arica Advancement Board in coordination with foreign organizations that promoted the implementation of a supposed model of sustainable development in the area is analyzed.