How long ago did Native Americans settle in the area where Chile would eventually be located ?
Despite such diversity , it is possible to classify the indigenous people into three major cultural groups : the northern people , who developed rich handicrafts and were influenced by pre-Incan cultures ; the Araucanian culture , who inhabited the area between the river Choapa and the island of Chiloé , and lived primarily off agriculture ; and the Patagonian culture Patagonia composed of various nomadic tribes , who supported themselves through fishing and hunting ( and who in Pacific / Pacific Coast immigration scenario would be descended partly from the most ancient settlers ) .