Puelche people

Puelche (from the Mapudungun: pwelche - People of the East) was the name of an indigenous Mapuche ethnic group in southern South America. It included two closely related individual nations, the Het in the boonies and the Gennakenk (northern tehuelche ) in Patagonia.

Both peoples populated the entire south of present-day Argentina ( approximately south of a line Buenos Aires - Mendoza), and lived a nomadic, being from the 18th century - influenced by the Spaniards and Mapuche - operated equine and cattle. They also had one or more custom languages ​​( variation of a Pano language) and exchanged with neighboring ethnic groups. As good runners and riders later they hunted guanacos and rheas, and they were armed with spears and bolas.

Towards the end of the 18th century they went on in the Mapuche and were absorbed by them.

• Indigenous people in South America
• Ethnic group in Argentina