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Location: Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, and Chile. Language: Selk'nam (extinct). Cultural Characteristics: They were nomadic hunters traditionally pursuing guanaco; their initiation rites, such as the Hain ceremony, were elaborate; they painted their bodies for certain rituals.

Location: Paraguay, and parts of Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia. Language: Guarani. Cultural Characteristics: Practice subsistence farming; their culture and language are an integral part of Paraguayan identity; known for their yerba mate consumption.

Location: Altiplano regions, primarily in Bolivia, Peru, and Chile. Language: Aymara. Cultural Characteristics: Renowned for their vibrant textiles; Lake Titicaca is significant in their cosmology; they host the annual celebration of Alasitas.

Location: Amazon rainforest, between Venezuela and Brazil. Language: Yanomaman languages. Cultural Characteristics: Semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers; their social units are based on village communities; shamanism and use of the hallucinogen yakoana play a role in their culture.

Location: Andean regions of South America, primarily in Peru and Bolivia. Language: Quechuan languages. Cultural Characteristics: Known for traditional weaving and agriculture; maintain the Inca heritage; experienced in high-altitude farming.

Location: La Guajira Peninsula in Colombia and Venezuela. Language: Wayuunaiki. Cultural Characteristics: Noted for their woven bags (mochilas Wayuu); matriarchal society; traditionally pastoralists.

Location: Orinoco Delta in Venezuela. Language: Warao. Cultural Characteristics: Their houses are built on stilts to cope with flooding; they are skilled canoe builders; reliant mainly on fishing and foraging.

Location: Roraima in Brazil and also in Guyana and Venezuela. Language: Makushi (Cariban language family). Cultural Characteristics: Their livelihood includes farming, hunting, and fishing; also known for the craft of cotton hammocks; have a deep spiritual connection with the land and natural elements.

Location: Eastern Amazon of Brazil. Language: Tupian languages. Cultural Characteristics: Their historical significance during the early contact period with Europeans is well documented; they have a rich oral tradition and mythology; their livelihood includes agriculture and fishing.

Location: Border area between Peru and Brazil in the Amazon rainforest. Language: Matsés. Cultural Characteristics: They were previously known as fierce warriors; use of frog poison for hunting; practice swidden agriculture (slash-and-burn).

Location: Peruvian Amazon along the Ucayali River. Language: Shipibo. Cultural Characteristics: Recognized for their intricate kené designs; use of ayahuasca in spiritual practices; live in communal houses.

Location: Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Colombia. Language: Chibchan languages (extinct). Cultural Characteristics: Known for their elaborate gold work, which gave rise to the El Dorado myth; skilled in salt and emerald mining; the Muisca Confederation was their political and economical administration.

Location: Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region, Colombia. Language: Chimila. Cultural Characteristics: They have an agricultural society with a focus on cattle raising; maintain a rich oral tradition; live in dispersed homesteads rather than villages.

Location: Chile and southwestern Argentina. Language: Mapudungun. Cultural Characteristics: Their resistance to the Spanish conquest is notable; ritual of Ngillatun for praying and thanksgiving; silversmithing and textile arts are distinguished crafts.

Location: Southern Brazil. Language: Kaingang (Jê language group). Cultural Characteristics: They organize their society in half-clans; known for their basketry; practice slash-and-burn agriculture.

Location: Cauca Department, Colombia. Language: Nasa Yuwe. Cultural Characteristics: They have their own autonomous territorial entities called 'Resguardos'; are known for their political organization and resistance; practice mixed agriculture.

Location: Gran Sabana region of Venezuela, as well as northern Brazil and Guyana. Language: Pemon (Cariban language family). Cultural Characteristics: They are known for their knowledge of the tepuis and their mythology surrounding them; skilled in making woven hammocks; subsist on cassava and other local agriculture.

Location: Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon. Language: Asháninka (Arawakan family). Cultural Characteristics: Skilled in hunting and fishing; known for colorful cotton garments; communal houses called 'malocas'.

Location: San Blas Islands, Panama and Northern Colombia. Language: Dulegaya (Kuna language). Cultural Characteristics: Known for their mola textiles; hold strong political autonomy 'Guna Yala'; have a matrilineal social structure.