Indigenous Peoples of Chile: A Cultural Journey

Indigenous Peoples of Chile

Monkey

Located in the Loa-Choapa area. Nomadic hunter-gatherers living in bands. Known for their conchales culture and leather wolf balsas.

Aimaras

Inhabiting Region XV. Sedentary farmers who raised llamas (called Vishuna). Influenced by the Inca and their Quechua language. Organized into Aylws (land + family).

Atacameños

Located in the Salar region. Sedentary farmers with modern technology. Spoke the Cunza language (people + developed). Influenced by Inca mummification practices.

Diagitas/Moyes

Inhabiting the transverse valleys III and IV. Sedentary farmers and ranchers. Spoke the Kakan language. Known for their ceramic jugs, mugs, and duck-shaped shoes.

Picunches

Located in the South Central Zone and south of the Choapa-Itata area. Sedentary farmers and potters. Their name means "people of the north."

Mapuches

Inhabited the area between Itata and Tolten in Araucanía. Sedentary farmers and llama herders. Known as the "people of the earth."

Huilliche

Located from Tolten south to Reloncaví. Sedentary farmers. Known as the "people of the south."

Chiquillanes

Inhabited the Andes facing Santiago. Nomadic hunter-gatherers living in gangs, constantly crossing back and forth with the Pehuenches.

Pehuenches

Located between the Tolten River, Talca, and Temuco. Nomadic hunter-gatherers living in bands. Known as the "men of the piñon," which served as a staple food.

Puelche

Located between Tolten and Puerto Montt. Nomadic hunter-gatherers living in bands. Their name means "people of the east," referring to the wind direction.

Poyas

Located near Chiloé. Nomadic hunter-gatherers living in bands. Considered primitive people.

Cunza

Located in Chiloé. Coastal fishermen and gatherers. Differentiated from the Huilliches who lived north of Puerto Montt.

Chon

Located in northern Chiloé Island and Taitao. Nomadic marine hunters. Lived in family bands called "cancers" because they spent much time in their dalcas (three-board boats curved by fire).

Alacalufes

Located south of Taitao to Magellan. Nomadic marine hunters. Known for their dalcas and body painting ceremonies.

Yagán

Located south of the Magellan Islands and Cape Horn. Nomadic marine hunters living in bands and families. Known for their canoes and wooden weapons. Often wore animal fat for warmth.

Tehuelches

Located in Patagonia, Argentina, near Region XI. Nomadic land hunters of ostriches and guanacos. Tall people known as Patagonians, who used bolas as weapons.

Onas

Located in Tierra del Fuego. Nomadic land hunters of ostriches and guanacos. Covered themselves with guanaco hides. Known for their large weapons and puberty ceremony called Kloket.

Rapanui

Located on Easter Island. Sedentary fishermen living in villages.