Populated by the Tehuelche and the Mapuche before the Conquest of the Desert, lonco Manuel Namuncurá established himself there for years, after receiving lands there as a condition to surrender to the Argentine Government.

[3] Before it was incorporated to Argentina, the Middle Valley region of the Río Negro was populated by the Mapuche and the Tehuelche nations.

Manuel Namuncurá then found a more suitable area for his tribe and he moved to the current town of San Ignacio, in the Neuquén Province.

The Argentinian religious authorities attributed the healing of the metastasized uterine cancer of a woman of the Córdoba Province to a miracle performed through the worship of Namuncurá.

In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI beatified Namuncurá and he assigned cardinal Tarcisio Bertone to perform a ceremony in Chimpay.

It lies in the Mid Valley of the Río Negro on the left bank of the river, surrounded by the typical steep slopes that are known in the area as bardas.

[10] Chimpay is strongly influenced by the figure of blessed Ceferino Namuncurá, who dedicated his short life to helping his people and pursued the goal of becoming a priest to return to the region.

[1] Although a small-town life with little activity on its streets most of the year, thousands of pilgrims arrive there in August to celebrate Namuncurá's birth date.

[3] The celebration lasts a few days and different activities such as religious services, cultural events and a local craftsmen fair, take place.

The chapel located there has Mapuche and Tehuelche elements, such as graphic symbols, a mural displaying Jesus Christ with the natives and a tent-shaped roof.