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Indigenous peoples
*** Shopping-Tip: Indigenous peoples
The term '''indigenous peoples''' has no universal, standard or fixed definition. Several widely-accepted formulations have been put forward by important internationally-recognised organizations, such as the
United Nations, the
International Labour Organization and the
World Bank.
{{Wikisourcepar|Draft United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples}}
{{Wikisourcepar|Convention concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries}}
Drawing on these, a contemporary working definition of "indigenous peoples" has criteria which would seek to include cultural groups (and their descendants) who have an historical continuity or association with a given region, or parts of a region, and who formerly or currently inhabit the region either:
:* before its subsequent
Colonialism colonization or annexation; ''or''
:* alongside other cultural groups during the formation of a
Nation nation-state; ''or''
:* independently or largely isolated from the influence of the claimed governance by a nation-state,
and who furthermore
:* have maintained at least in part their distinct
Linguistics linguistic,
Culture cultural and
Society social / organizational characteristics, and in doing so remain differentiated in some degree from the surrounding populations and dominant culture of the nation-state.
To the above, a criterion is usually added to also include:
:*peoples who are self-identified as indigenous, and those recognised as such by other groups.
Other related terms for indigenous peoples include '''aborigines''', '''native peoples''', '''first peoples''', '''Fourth World''', '''
First Nations first nations''' and '''autochthonous''' (this last term having a derivation from Greek, meaning "sprung from the earth"). ''Indigenous peoples'' may often be used in preference to these or other terms, as a neutral replacement where these terms may have taken on negative or
pejorative connotations by their prior association and use. It is the preferred term in use by the United Nations and its subsidiary organizations.
Characteristics of indigenous peoples: overview
Population and distribution
Indigenous societies range from those who have been significantly exposed to the colonizing or expansionary activities of other societies (example: the
Maya peoples of
Mesoamerica) through to those who as yet remain in comparative isolation from any external influence (example: the
Sentinelese and
Jarawa (Andaman Islands) Jarawa of the
Andaman Islands).
Precise estimates for the total population of the world's indigenous peoples are very difficult to compile, given the difficulties in identification and the variances and inadequacies of available census data. Recent source estimates range from 300 million{{ref|WGIP1}} to 350 million{{ref|IWGIA1}} as of the start of the 21st century. This would equate to just under 6% of the total
world population. This includes at least 5000 distinct peoples{{ref|IWGIA2}} in over 72 countries.
Contemporary distinct indigenous groups survive in populations ranging from only a few dozen to hundreds of thousands or more. Many indigenous populations have undergone a dramatic decline and even extinction, and remain threatened in many parts of the world. In other cases, indigenous populations are undergoing a recovery or expansion in numbers.
Certain indigenous societies persist even though they may no longer inhabit their "traditional" lands, owing to migration, relocation, forced resettlement or having been supplanted by other cultural groups.
Common characteristics
Characteristics common across many indigenous groups include present or historical reliance upon
List of subsistence techniques subsistence-based production (based on
pastoralism pastoral,
Agriculture agricultural and/or
Hunter gatherer hunting and gathering techniques), and a predominantly non-
Urbanization urbanized society. Indigenous societies may be either essentially settled in a given location or exhibit a
Nomad nomadic lifestyle across a large territory. Indigenous societies are found in every inhabited climate zone and
Continent continent.
Common concerns
Indigenous peoples confront a diverse range of issues and concerns associated with their status and interaction with other cultural groups, and changes in their inhabited environment. These challenges may be either specific to particular groups, or are commonly experienced by many such groups.
These issues include cultural and linguistic preservation,
Land rights land rights, ownership and exploitation of
Natural resources natural resources, political determination and autonomy,
Natural environment environmental degradation and incursion,
Poverty poverty,
Public health health, and
Discrimination discrimination.
The interaction between indigenous and non-indigenous societies throughout history has been a complex one, ranging from outright conflict and subjugation to some degree of mutual benefit and cultural transfer. A particular aspect of
Anthropology anthropological study involves investigation into the ramifications of what is termed
First contact (anthropology) ''first contact'', the study of what occurs when two cultures first encounter one another. The situation can be further confused when there is a complicated or contested history of
Migration migration and population of a given region, which can give rise to disputes about primacy and ownership of the land and resources.
Definitions
An '''indigene''' is literally someone or something that is native to or originating from a given place. Therefore, when '''indigenous''' is used purely as an adjective, an ''indigenous people'' is a group or culture regarded as "coming from" a given place. In this broad sense almost any person or group is indigenous to some location or other.
As a contemporary cultural description, however, the term ''indigenous peoples'' has a much narrower common meaning. The more restrictive criteria as outlined need to be satisfied in order to identify an indigenous group as such in the sense interpreted here.
The identification of a people as indigenous under these terms can in practice be further refined by examining the nature and status of their interactions with other communities. These other, external communities or nation-states are those having some degree of association, claim or control over the same territory inhabited (or formerly inhabited) by the indigenous group.
In this relationship the status of the indigenous people can in most instances be characterised as being effectively marginalised, isolated and/or as forming a minority, when compared to other groups from whom they are distinct, or the nation-state as a whole. They have limited participation and influence over external policies concerning their territorial, environmental and societal governance.
This situation can persist even in the case where the indigenous population outnumbers that of the other inhabitants of the region or state; the defining notion here is one of separation from decision and regulatory processes having some at least titular effect over aspects of their community and lands.
The presence of external laws, claims and cultural mores either potentially or actually act to variously constrain the practices and observances of an indigenous society. These constraints can be observed even when the indigenous society is regulated largely by its own tradition and custom. They may be purposefully imposed, or arise as unintended consequence of trans-cultural interaction; and have a measurable effect even where countered by other external influences and actions deemed to be beneficial or which serve to promote indigenous rights and interests within the wider community.
Thus many organizations advocating for indigenous rights, and the indigenous communities themselves, seek to particularly and explicitly identify peoples in this position as indigenous. This identification may also be made or acknowledged by the surrounding communities and nation-state, although there are some instances where the identity claim is the subject of some dispute, particularly with regard to recognizing assertions made over territorial rights.
In contrast, the term '''non-indigenous''' might well be applied to describe these other communities; however, its application may be inaccurate or contested in some circumstances where the cultural group has or lays claim to lengthy prior association with the territory.
Some formal contemporary definitions which have been offered and widely accepted are described below.
In 1972 the '''United Nations''' Working Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP) accepted as a preliminary definition a formulation put forward by Mr. José Martinez Cobo, Special Rapporteur on Discrimination against Indigenous Populations:
:''Indigenous populations are composed of the existing descendants of the peoples who inhabited the present territory of a country wholly or partially at the time when persons of a different culture or ethnic origin arrived there from other parts of the world, overcame them, by conquest, settlement or other means, reduced them to a non-dominant or colonial condition; who today live more in conformity with their particular social, economic and cultural customs and traditions than with the institutions of the country of which they now form part, under a state structure which incorporates mainly national, social and cultural characteristics of other segments of the population which are predominant.''
This definition has some limitations which were subsequently noted by the organization. The definition applies mainly to pre-colonial populations, and would likely exlude other isolated or marginal societies. In 1983 the WGIP enlarged this definition (FICN. 41Sub.211983121 Adds. para. 3 79) to include the following criteria:
:*''(a) they are the descendants of groups, which were in the territory at the time when other groups of different cultures or ethnic origin arrived there;''
:*''(b) precisely because of their isolation from other segments of the country's population they have almost preserved intact the customs and traditions of their ancestors which are similar to those characterised as indigenous;''
:*''(c) they are, even if only formally, placed under a state structure which incorporates national, social and cultural characteristics alien to their own.''
In 1986 it was further added that any individual who identified himself or herself as indigenous and was accepted by the group or the community as one of its members was to be regarded as an indigenous person (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1986/7/Add.4. para.381).
The draft ''Universal Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples'' prepared by the DWIG does not provide a specific definition of indigenous peoples or populations. According to the Chairperson, Ms. Erica Irene Daes, Rapporteur of the Working Group, this was because "historically, indigenous peoples have suffered, from definitions imposed by others" (E/CN.4/Stib.2/AC.4/1995/3, page 3).
A definition as used by the '''International Labour Organisation''' (Convention No. 169, concerning the working rights of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, 1989) applies to:
:''both tribal peoples whose social, cultural and economic conditions distinguish them from other sections of the national community and whose status is regulated wholly or partially by their own customs or traditions or by special laws or regulations, and to peoples who are regarded as indigenous on account of their descent from the populations which inhabit the country at the time of conquest or colonisation.''
A description of Indigenous Peoples given by the '''World Bank''' (operational directive 4.20, 1991) reads as follows:
:''Indigenous Peoples can be identified in particular geographical areas by the presence in varying degrees of the following characteristics: a) close attachment to ancestral territories and to the natural resources in these areas; b) self-identification and identification by others as members of a distinct cultural group; c) an indigenous language, often different from the national language; d) presence of customary social and political institutions; and e) primarily subsistence-oriented production.''
Historical indigenous cultures
The
Human migration migration, expansion and settlement of societies throughout different territories is a universal, almost defining thread which runs through the entire course of
History of the world human history. Many of the cross-cultural interactions which arose as a result of these historical encounters involved societies which might properly be considered as indigenous, either from their own viewpoint or that of external societies.
Most often, these past encounters between indigenous and "non-indigenous" groups lack contemporary account or description. Any assessment or understanding of impact, result and relation can at best only be surmised, using
Archaeology archaeological,
Historical linguistics linguistic or other reconstructive means. Where accounts do exist, they frequently originate from the viewpoint of the colonizing, expansionary or nascent state.
Classical antiquity
Greek sources of the
Ancient Greece Classical period acknowledge the prior existence of indigenous people(s), whom they referred to as "
Pelasgians." These peoples inhabited lands surrounding the
Aegean Sea before the subsequent migrations of the
Hellenes Hellenic ancestors claimed by these authors. The disposition and precise identity of this former group is elusive, and sources such as
Homer,
Hesiod and
Herodotus give varying, partially
mythology mythological accounts. However, it is clear that cultures existed whose indigenous characteristics were distinguished by the subsequent Hellenic cultures (and distinct from non-Greek speaking "foreigners", termed "
barbarians" by the historical Greeks).
European expansion and colonialism
The rapid and extensive spread of the various
European powers from the early 15th Century onwards had a profound impact upon many of the indigenous cultures with whom they came into contact. The
Age of Discovery exploratory and colonial ventures in the
Americas,
Africa,
Asia and the
Pacific often resulted in territorial and cultural conflict, and the intentional or unintentional displacement and devastation of the indigenous populations.
Contemporary distribution and survey
Indigenous populations are distributed in regions throughout the globe. The numbers, condition and experience of indigenous groups may vary widely within a given region. A comprehensive survey is further complicated by sometimes contentious membership and identification.
Africa
{{Main|Indigenous peoples of Africa}}
''See also:
:Category:Indigenous peoples of Africa''
In the post-colonial period, the concept of specific indigenous peoples within the
African continent has gained wider acceptance, although not without controversy. The highly-diverse and numerous ethnic groups which comprise most modern, independent African states contain within them various peoples whose situation, cultures and
pastoralism pastoralist or
hunter-gatherer lifestyles are generally marginalised and set apart from the dominant political and economic structures of the nation. Since the late 20th century these peoples have increasingly sought recognition of their rights as distinct indigenous peoples, in both national and international contexts.
Although the vast majority of African peoples can be considered to be indigenous in the sense that they have originated from that continent and nowhere else, in practice identity as an "indigenous people" as per the term's modern application is more restrictive, and certainly not every African ethnic group claims identification under these terms. Groups and communities who do claim this recognition are those who by a variety of historical and environmental circumstances have been placed outside of the dominant state systems, and whose traditional practices and land claims often come into conflict with the objectives and policies promulgated by governments, companies and surrounding dominant societies.
Given the extensive and complicated history of
human migration within Africa, being the "first peoples in a land" is not a necessary pre-condition for acceptance as an indigenous people. Rather, indigenous identity relates more to a set of characteristics and practices than priority of arrival. For example, several populations of
nomadic peoples such as the
Tuareg of the
Sahara and
Sahel regions now inhabit areas in which they arrived comparatively recently; their claim to indigenous status (endorsed by the
African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights) is based on their marginalisation as nomadic peoples in states and territories dominated by sedentary agricultural peoples.
The
Indigenous Peoples of Africa Co-ordinating Committee Indigenous Peoples of Africa Co-ordinating Committee (IPACC) is one of the main trans-national network organizations recognised as a representative of African indigenous peoples in dialogues with governments and bodies such as the UN. IPACC identifies several key characteristics associated with indigenous claims in Africa:
* ''political and economic marginalisation rooted in colonialism;''
* ''de facto discrimination based often on the dominance of agricultural peoples in the State system (e.g. lack of access to education and health care by hunters and herders);''
* ''the particularities of culture, identity, economy and territoriality that link hunting and herding peoples to their home environments in deserts and forests (e.g. nomadism, diet, knowledge systems);''
* ''some indigenous peoples, such as the
Bushmen San and
Pygmy peoples are physically distinct, which makes them subject to specific forms of discrimination.''
With respect to concerns expressed that identifying some groups and not others as indigenous is in itself
discrimination discriminatory, IPACC states that it:
*''"...recognises that all Africans should enjoy equal rights and respect. All of Africa’s diversity is to be valued. Particular communities, due to historical and environmental circumstances, have found themselves outside the state-system and underrepresented in governance...This is not to deny other Africans their status; it is to emphasise that affirmative recognition is necessary for hunter-gatherers and herding peoples to ensure their survival."''
At an African inter-governmental level, the examination of indigenous rights and concerns is pursued by a sub-commission established under the
African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), sponsored by the
African Union African Union (AU) (successor body to the
Organisation of African Unity Organisation of African Unity (OAU)). In late 2003 the 53 signatory states of the ACHPR adopted the ''Report of the African Commission's Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities'' and its recommendations. This report says in part (p. 62):
* ''...certain marginalized groups are discriminated in particular ways because of their particular culture, mode of production and marginalized position within the state[; a] form of discrimination that other groups within the state do not suffer from. The call of these marginalized groups to protection of their rights is a legitimate call to alleviate this particular form of discrimination.''
The adoption of this report at least notionally subscribed the signatories to the concepts and aims of furthering the identity and rights of African indigenous peoples. The extent to which individual states are mobilising to put these recommendations into practice varies enormously, however, and most indigenous groups continue to agitate for improvements in the areas of land rights, use of natural resources, protection of environment and culture, political recognition and freedom from discrimination.
The Americas
{{Main|Indigenous peoples of the Americas}}
''See also:
:Category:Indigenous peoples of the Americas''
Indigenous peoples of
The Americas the American continents are broadly recognised as being those groups and their descendants who inhabited the region before the arrival of European colonizers and settlers (i.e.,
Pre-Columbian). Indigenous peoples who maintain, or seek to maintain, traditional ways of life are found from the high
Arctic north to the southern extremities of
Tierra del Fuego.
The impact of
European colonization of the Americas on the indigenous communities was in general quite severe, with many authorities estimating ranges of significant
Population history of American indigenous peoples population decline due to the ravages of various
epidemic diseases (
smallpox,
measles, etc), displacement, conflict and exploitation. The extent of this impact is the subject of much continuing debate. Several peoples shortly thereafter became
extinct, or very nearly so.
Almost all modern American nations have populations of indigenous peoples within their borders. In some (particularly
Latin American) countries indigenous peoples form a sizeable component of the overall population- in
Bolivia they account for an estimated 56%-70% of the total, and nearly half of the populations in
Guatemala and
Peru. Indigenous peoples are collectively referred to by several different terms which vary by region and the peoples they include, such as
Native Americans (Americas) Native Americans, Amerindians, pueblos indÃgenas, povos indÃgenas, etc.
The
Aboriginal peoples in Canada include
Inuit,
Métis and peoples designated as
First Nations. The combined indigenous population is an estimated 900,000. Their status is recognized by
Canada's
Constitution Act, 1982. The Inuit have achieved a degree of administrative autonomy with the creation in 1999 of the territory of
Nunavut.
The self-administering
Denmark Danish territory of
Greenland is also home to a majority population of indigenous Inuit (about 85%).
In the
United States, the combined populations of
Native Americans in the United States Native Americans, Inuit and other indigenous designations totalled 2,786,652 (constituting about 1.5% of 2003 US census figures). Some 563 scheduled tribes are recognized at the Federal level, and a number of others recognized at the State level.
In
Mexico, approximately 30% of the total population identify as ''
indÃgenas''. In the southern states of
Chiapas and
Oaxaca they constitute the majority of the population. In these states several conflicts and episodes of civil war have been conducted, in which the situation and participation of indigenous societies were notable factors (see for example
Zapatista Army of National Liberation EZLN).
Asia
{{Main|Indigenous peoples of Asia}}
''See also:
:Category:Indigenous peoples of Asia''
The vast regions of
Asia contain the majority of the world's present-day indigenous populations, about 70% according to IGWIA figures.
The most substantial populations are in
India, which constitutionally recognises a range of "
List of Scheduled Tribes in India Scheduled Tribes" within its borders. These various peoples (collectively referred to as
Adivasis, or tribal peoples) number about 68 million (1991 census figures, approximately 8% of the total national population).
Europe
Image:Saami Family 1900.jpg right|thumb|250px|A Sami family in northern Scandinavia around 1900
{{Main|Indigenous peoples of Europe}}
''See also:
:Category:Indigenous peoples of Europe''
In Europe, present-day indigenous populations are relatively few, mainly confined to northern and far-eastern reaches of this
Eurasian peninsula. Whilst there are various
ethnic minority ethnic minorities distributed within European countries, few of these still maintain traditional subsistence cultures and are recognized as indigenous peoples, ''per se''. Notable indigenous populations include the
Sami people of northern
Scandinavia, the
Basque people Basques, the
Nenets people Nenets and other
Samoyedic peoples of the northern
Russian Federation, and the
Komi peoples of the western
Ural mountains Urals.
Oceania
{{Main|Indigenous peoples of Oceania}}
''See also:
:Category:Indigenous peoples of Oceania''
Many of the present-day
Pacific Island nations in the
Oceania region were originally populated by
Polynesian,
Melanesian and
Micronesian peoples over the course of thousands of years. European colonial expansion in the
Pacific Ocean Pacific brought many of these under non-indigenous administration. During the 20th century several of these former colonies gained independence and nation-states were formed under local control. However, various peoples have put forward claims for indigenous recognition where their islands are still under external administration; examples include the
Chamorros of
Guam and the
Northern Marianas, and the
Marshallese people Marshallese of the
Marshall Islands.
In
New Zealand, the indigenous
MÄ?ori (see also
Iwi) constitute nearly 15% of the total population.
Indigenous Australians, including
Aboriginal Australians and
Torres Strait Islanders, account for 2.4% of the total population of
Australia (2001 census figures).
The independent state of
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a majority population of indigenous societies, with some 700+ different tribal groups recognised out of a total population of just over 5 million. The PNG Constitution and other Acts identify traditional or custom-based practices and land tenure, and explicitly sets out to promote the viability of these traditional societies within the modern state. However, several conflicts and disputes concerning land use and resource rights continue to be observed between indigenous groups, the government and corporate entities.
Viewpoints on indigenous societies
A range of differing viewpoints and attitudes have arisen from the experience and history of contact between indigenous and "non-indigenous" communities. The cultural, regional and historical contexts in which these viewpoints have developed are complex, and many competing viewpoints exist simultaneously in any given society, albeit promulgated with greater or lesser force depending on the extent of cross-cultural exposure and internal societal change. These views may be noted from both sides of the relationship.
Indigenous viewpoints
{{sect-stub}}
"Non-indigenous" viewpoints
Indigenous peoples have variously been identified as ''primitives,'' ''savages,'' or ''uncivilized.'' These terms were common during the heyday of European colonial expansion. By the 17th century, indigenous peoples were commonly labeled "uncivilized". Proponents of civilization, like
Thomas Hobbes, considered them merely savages; critics of
civilization, such as
Jean Jacques Rousseau, considered them to be "
noble savages". Those who were close to the Hobbesian view tended to believe themselves to have a duty to
civilize and modernize indigenes. Although anthropologists, especially from Europe, used to apply these terms to all tribal cultures, it has fallen into disfavor as demeaning and, according to anthropologists, inaccurate (see
tribe,
cultural evolution).
After World War I, however, many Europeans came to doubt the value of civilization. At the same time, the anti-colonial movement, and advocates of indigenous peoples, argued that words such as "
civilize civilized" and "savage" were products and tools of
colonialism, and argued that colonialism itself was savagely destructive.
In the mid 20th century, Europeans began to recognize that indigenous and tribal peoples should have the right to decide for themselves what should happen to their ancient
cultures and their ancestral lands.
Several criticisms of the concept of indigenous peoples are:
*In many cases, such as with some
Native American (Americas) Native American tribes, some people claim that the people termed indigenous arrived in an area ''after'' the people termed non-indigenous.
* Peoples have invaded or colonised each other's lands since before recorded history and so the division into indigenous and non-indigenous is a matter of judgement. Even in recent centuries there are difficulties: for example, are the
Zulu people indigenous to
South Africa?
*Lumping indigenous peoples into one group ignores the vast amounts of diversity among them and at the same time imposes a uniform identity on them, which may not be historically accurate.
Some feel that those who argue that indigenous peoples should have the right of self-determination often are simply replacing the
stereotype of the
barbaric savage with another stereotype, that of the noble savage possessing mystic truths and at peace with nature, and that this second stereotype ignores some of the real issues of indigenous peoples such as economic development.
Indigenous rights, issues and concerns
Wherever indigenous cultural identity is asserted, some particular set of societal issues and concerns may be voiced which either arise from (at least in part), or have a particular dimension associated with, their indigenous status. These concerns will often be commonly held or affect other societies also, and are not necessarily experienced uniquely by indigenous groups.
Despite the diversity of indigenous peoples, in may be noted that they share common problems and issues in dealing with the prevailing, or invading, society. They are generally concerned that the cultures of indigenous peoples are being lost and that indigenous peoples suffer both discrimination and pressure to assimilate into their surrounding societies. This is borne out by the fact that the lands and cultures of nearly all of the peoples listed at the end of this article are under threat. Notable exceptions are the
Sakha and
Komi peoples (two of the Northern Indigenous Peoples of
Siberia), who now control their own autonomous republics within the Russian state.
It is also sometimes argued that it is important for the human species as a whole to preserve a wide range of
cultural diversity as possible, and that the protection of indigenous cultures is vital to this enterprise.
An example of this occurred in 2002 when the Government of
Botswana expelled all the
Kalahari Desert Kalahari Bushmen from the lands they had lived off for at least twenty thousand years. Government ministers described the
Bushmen as "stone age creatures" and likened their forced eviction to a cull of
elephants. These events passed almost without comment in the world's media, at a time when the eviction of a number of white people from land in nearby
Zimbabwe was headline news.
In response, many have pointed out that in many cases the indigenous peoples often haven't been living self-sufficiently in an area for centuries, and that economic development was not an issue before because it was not an option. They point out that when given a choice, indigenous peoples themselves often want economic development, and that this has indeed caused conflicts with environmental groups when indigenous peoples have been given title to land and then proceed to develop just like non-indigenous people. Furthermore, it has been pointed out that indigenous peoples are not necessarily any more self-sufficient or in tune with nature, and that indigenous peoples have themselves perhaps adversely affected the environment, examples given (but not necessarily universally accepted) including catastrophic
deforestation on
Easter Island, or the disappearance of
Australia Australian and North American
megafauna, believed by some to have been caused by hunting activities.
Indigenous knowledge and culture
{{main|Traditional knowledge}}
Indigenous societies possess an often unique body of cultural and environmental
Knowledge knowledge. The preservation and investigation of specialised
Traditional knowledge indigenous knowledge, particularly in relation to the resources of the natural environment with which the society is associated, is an increasingly sought-after goal of both the indigenous and the societies who thereby seek to identify new resources and benefits (example: partnerships established to research useful biological extracts from vegetation in the
Amazon Rainforest Amazon rainforests).
For some people (e.g. indigenous communities from
India,
Brazil, and
Malaysia and some NGOs such as
GRAIN and
Third World Network), indigenous peoples may be victims of
biopiracy when they are subjected to unauthorised use of their
biological resources, of their traditional knowledge on these biological resources, of unequal share of benefits between them and a
patent holder. A controversial case of biopiracy was reported on human genes of a tribal community reported to be resistant to
malaria and
leprosy.
Representation
The
Human rights rights, claims and even identity of indigenous peoples are apprehended, acknowledged and observed quite differently from government to government. Various organizations exist with charters to in one way or another promote (or at least acknowledge) indigenous aspirations, and indigenous societies have often banded together to form bodies which jointly seek to further their communal interests.
United Nations
Indigenous peoples and their interests are represented in the United Nations primarily through the mechanisms of the
Working Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP). In April 2000 the UN Commission on Human Rights adopted a resolution to establish the *
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII) as an advisory body to the Economic and Security Council with a mandate to review indigenous issues.
In late December 2004, the United Nations' General Assembly proclaimed 2005-2014 to be the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. The main goal of the new decade will be to strengthen international cooperation around resolving the problems faced by indigenous people in areas such as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment, and social and economic development.
Other accredited organizations
Various organizations are devoted to the preservation or study of indigenous peoples. Of these, several have widely-recognized credentials to act as an intermediary or representative on behalf of indigenous peoples' groups, in negotiations on indigenous issues with governments and international organizations. These include:
*
International Working Group on Indigenous Affairs International Working Group on Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)
*
Indigenous Peoples of Africa Co-ordinating Committee Indigenous Peoples of Africa Co-ordinating Committee (IPACC)
*
Survival International
*
Indigenous Dialogues
List of indigenous peoples
''Main article:
List of indigenous peoples''
;Other (external) lists:
-
For a further list
References
#{{note|WGIP1}} {{Citepaper publisher | Author=WGIP | Title=Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations System | Publisher=Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Office at Geneva | PublishYear=2001 | URL=http://www.unhchr.ch/html/racism/indileaflet1.doc }}
#{{note|IWGIA1}} {{cite web | title=Indigenous issues | work=International Work Group on Indigenous Affairs | url=http://www.iwgia.org/sw155.asp | accessdate=September 5 | accessyear=2005}}
#{{note|IWGIA2}} ''Ibid.''
* United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations, from ''Study of the Problem of Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations'', J. Martinez Cobo, United Nations Special Rapporteur (1987)
External links
Institutions
-
UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UN PFII)
-
Working Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP)
-
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)- Indigenous peoples
-
UNESCO Actions in favour of Indigenous Peoples
-
International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)
-
Survival International
-
Development Gateway Indigenous Issues Topic Page
-
Human Rights Internet- Indigenous issues
-
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation
-
Cultural Survival
Indigenous studies
-
WWW Virtual Library- Indigenous studies resources
-
Center for World Indigenous Studies (CWIS)
-
African Pygmies studies Anthropological fieldwork about Pygmies
Category:Indigenous peoples Indigenous peoples
als:Ureinwohner
ca:IndÃgena
da:Aborigines
de:Indigene Völker
fr:Indigène
it:Popoli indigeni
iu:ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ
ja:先住民
nn:Urfolk
no:Urfolk
pl:Autochton
pt:Povo indÃgena
ru:Коренные народы
fi:Alkuperäiskansa
sv:Naturfolk
zh:原住民
zh-min-nan:Goân-chū-bîn
see
Indigenous peoples
{{catmore}}
This
:Category category and its sub-categories are intended to contain articles associated in some way with indigenous peoples, affairs, organisations, and other related fields of study, where ''indigenous'' is interpreted in the specific sense as described in the main article, above.
The identification of any particular people, group or society as being an ''indigenous people'' in the intended sense may at times be problematic. Often, there will exist some degree of dispute or contention, or possibly confusion with the purely adjectival, general sense of the term.
;Indigenous peoples - proposed criteria for category definition and inclusion
To assist in determining whether any particular people, community or group ought to be placed in this category (or its sub-categories), the following criteria are proposed:
:*''an indigenous people may be identified as such, where notable independent reference(s) can be found that the group's indigenous identity is either asserted or recognised as being indigenous, or some other cognate term, by either:''
:*#''some government, regulatory body, law or protocol, which may be either sub-national, national or trans-national; and/or''
:*#''some recognised body, NGO or other organisation, involved with indigenous affairs and recognised as an accredited participant, intermediary or representative in some legal, negotiative, national or international regulatory or rights-based process; and/or''
:*#''some academic and peer-reviewed literature or publication; and/or''
:*#''some representative body of the indigenous society itself, where that representation is made in respect of a claim or issue to a government or governmentally-supported organisation (eg the UN, African Union).''
That source should naturally be cited on the relevant page. Where there is (independent) contention about identifying any particular group as an ''indigenous people'', the contention should be noted in the relevant article along with the cited reference(s) in which this contention appears.
As there are potentially very many groups which may be indentified as indigenous peoples, a further suggestion is to '''place articles on particular indigenous groups in the appropriate ''regional sub-category''''', for example
:Category:Indigenous peoples of South America. Note that some indigenous peoples may merit placement in more than one regional sub-category, according to their distribution.
For further information and discussion on the criteria above, see this category's
Category talk:Indigenous peoples talk page. Further comment and refinement is welcomed.
Category:Ethnic groups
Category:Ethnology
Category:Anthropology
de:Kategorie:Indigenes Volk
zh:category:原�民
*** Shopping-Tip: Indigenous peoples
