Native Peoples of South America

The native people of South America that were in residence before the arrival of European settlersin the 15th century were tribes of Indians. The Haush, Selk'nam and Yaghan Indians suffered badly when their lands were invaded by western settlers. Many were killed during battles, but more died from the diseases the invaders brought with them, and from starvation when they found themselves in competition for the natural resources.

Araucanian Indians (Mapuche)

When the Spanish arrived in Southern Chile they found the Mapuche waiting for them. Warlike, they had repelled an Inca invasion 100 years before the arrival of the Spanish. The ensuing war between the two sides was long and bloody with appalling atrocities commited by both partys. The present populations of Mapuche and Picunche in Chile is fewer than one million and most live in the forested region and the central Chilean city of Temuco .

Selk'nam Indians (Ona)

The Indians of Tierra del fuego remained relatively unmolested until the 19th century due to the inhospitable and desolate terrain. The nomadic Indians named Selk'nam or Ona were hunters. It was these people that lit fires along the hills inspiring Europeans to dub the area Tierra del Fuego, meaning ‘land of fire'.

Yaghan Indians (Yamana)

The Yaghan and Alacaluf Indians are collectively known as Canoeist Peoples- indigenous groups who maked a living from the sea in small boats. The women ‘drove' from the stern whilst men sat at the front with harpoons' at the ready'. During cold weather, fires were lit on the sand covered bottom. They lived on Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, which later became a centre for missionary activities.

Alkaluf Indians

The Alkalufs were closely related to the Yaghan Indians, both culturally and genetically. They lived on the west coast of Patagonia (now Chile). The Reserva Nacional Alakalufe was created to preserve the coastal region once inhabited by the Alakalufe.

Haush Indians (Mannekenk)

The Haush, like the Selk'nam exploited land-based resources, relying particularly on Guanaco.