Mapuche

The Mapuche ( , ), also known as Araucanians, are a group of Indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina, including parts of Patagonia. The collective term refers to a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who share a common social, religious, and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage as Mapudungun speakers. Their homelands once extended from Choapa Valley to the Chiloé Archipelago and later spread eastward to Puelmapu, a land comprising part of the Argentine pampa and Patagonia. Today, the Mapuche represent 77.16% of Chile’s indig

1870's-80's Argentine campaign in Patagonia

city and commune in Maule, Chile

period of Chilean history, 1541-1600, period of Spanish conquest

thumb|right|200px|Lautaro (toqui)|Toqui Lautaro, painting by [[Pedro Subercaseaux.]] Toqui (or Toki) (Mapudungun for axe or axe-bearer) is a title conferred by the Mapuche (an indigenous Chilean and Argentinian people) on those chosen as leaders during times of war. The toqui is chosen in an assembly or parliament (coyag) of the chieftains (loncos) of various clans (Rehues) or confederation of clans (Aillarehues), allied during the war at hand. The toqui commanded strict obedience of all the warriors and their loncos during the war, would organize them into units and appoint leaders over them.

separatist and indigenist guerrilla organisation

thumb|220px|Portrait of the lonco Quilapán.A lonko or lonco (from Mapudungun longko, literally "head"), is a chief of several Mapuche communities. These were often ulmen, the wealthier men in the lof. In wartime, lonkos of the various local rehue or the larger aillarehue would gather in a koyag or parliament and would elect a toqui to lead the warriors in battle. Lonco sometimes forms part of geographical names such as the city of Loncoche (English: "head of an important person").

1833-1834 Argentinian military campaign

Nahuel () is a male given name of Mapuche origin, nawel meaning jaguar. It is very popular in Argentina, but also in Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.