Why was the early Spanish colony at Santiago threatened by Indigenous resistance?

The early Spanish colony at Santiago, founded by Pedro de Valdivia in 1541, faced a precarious existence due to persistent resistance from Indigenous populations, particularly the Mapuche.123

The primary driver of this conflict was the Indigenous refusal to submit to Spanish enslavement and foreign domination. Unlike the northern Picunche people, who had been accustomed to outside rule and were more easily assimilated, the Mapuche were numerous and fiercely resisted the colonial presence. To counter the Spanish threat, the Mapuche formed widespread military and political alliances, adopted the use of horses in battle, and utilized effective, innovative strategies led by figures such as Lautaro.2314

This resistance created a constant state of threat for the settlers, who struggled to maintain their foothold in the region for decades. The colony was nearly captured by the Mapuche following the defeat and death of Valdivia in 1553, and it was only saved by the death of Lautaro on the battlefield and the impact of a smallpox epidemic among the Indigenous population.231