The Selk'nam genocide refers to the systematic extermination of the Selk'nam people, indigenous inhabitants of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in Patagonia, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Fueled by expansionist cattle ranching interests and settlers' demand for land, the Selk'nam were subjected to violent campaigns, including massacres and forced displacement.
The exact dates of the genocide are not precisely known, but most of the violence occurred between the 1880s and early 1900s. The population of the Selk'nam, already small, was drastically reduced by hunting parties encouraged by ranchers and government authorities.
Efforts to document the genocide have been made through testimonies, anthropological records, and historical research, highlighting the cultural loss and devastating impact on the Selk'nam community.
