The term indigenous peoples or autochthonous peoples can be used to describe any ethnic group who inhabit the geographic region with which they have the earliest historical connection. However, several widely-accepted formulations, which define the term "Indigenous peoples" in stricter terms, have been put forward by prominent and internationally-recognized organizations, such as the United Nations, the International Labour Organization and the World Bank. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The International Labour Organization The World Bank is an internationally supported Bank that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs (e Indigenous peoples in this article is used in such a narrower sense.

Drawing on these, a contemporary working definition of "indigenous peoples" for certain purposes has criteria which would seek to include cultural groups (and their continuity or association with a given region, or parts of a region, and who formerly or currently inhabit the region either:

• before its subsequent colonization or annexation; or
• alongside other cultural groups during the formation of a nation-state; or
• independently or largely isolated from the influence of the claimed governance by a nation-state,

linguistic, cultural and social / organizational characteristics, and in doing so remain differentiated in some degree from the surrounding populations and dominant culture of the nation-state. See Colony and Colonization for examples of colonialism which do not refer to Western colonialism For the online game see Jennifer Government NationStates. The nation-state is a certain form of State that derives its legitimacy Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate" generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic A society is a Population of Humans characterized by patterns of relationships between individuals that share a distinctive Culture and Institutions Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate" generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic

To the above, a criterion is usually added to also include:

• peoples who are self-identified as indigenous, and/or those recognised as such by other groups.

Note that even if all the above criteria are fulfilled, some people may either not consider themselves as indigenous or may not be considered as indigenous by governments, organizations or scholars.

Other related terms for indigenous peoples include aborigines (æbəˈɹɪdʒɪni (help·info)), aboriginal peoples, native peoples, first peoples, first nations and autochthonous (this last term having a derivation from Greek, meaning "sprung from the earth"). First Nations is a term of Ethnicity that refers to the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis people Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly 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. Words and phrases are pejorative if they imply disapproval or contempt It is the preferred term in use by the United Nations and its subsidiary organizations.

Contents 1 Definitions 2 Characteristics of indigenous peoples: overview 2.1 Population and distribution 2.2 Common characteristics 2.3 Common concerns 3 Historical indigenous cultures 3.1 Classical antiquity 3.2 European expansion and colonialism 3.3 Europe 4 Contemporary distribution and survey 4.1 Africa 4.2 The Americas 4.3 Asia 4.4 Europe 4.5 Oceania 5 Indigenous rights, issues and concerns 5.1 Representation 5.1.1 United Nations 5.1.2 Other accredited organizations 5.2 International Day of the World's Indigenous People 6 Indigenous knowledge and culture 7 Viewpoints on indigenous societies 7.1 Indigenous viewpoints 7.2 Non-indigenous viewpoints 8 References 9 See also 10 External links 10.1 Institutions 10.2 Indigenous studies 10.3 Journals

Definitions

Main article: Definitions and identity of indigenous peoples

The adjective indigenous has the common meaning of "having originated in and being produced, growing, living, or occurring naturally in a particular region or environment". In Grammar, an adjective is a word whose main syntactic role is to modify a Noun or Pronoun, giving more information about the ^[2] Therefore, in a purely adjectival sense any given people, ethnic group or community may be described as being indigenous in reference to some particular region or location.

Key to a contemporary understanding of 'indigenousness' is the political role an ethnic group plays, for all other criteria usually taken to denote indigenous groups (territory, race, history, subsistence lifestyle, etc. ) can to a greater or lesser extent also be applied to majority cultures. Therefore, the distinction applied to indigenous ethnic groups can be formulated as: “a politically underprivileged group, who share a similar ethnic identity different to the nation in power, and who have been an ethnic entity in the locality before the present ruling nation took over power” (Greller, 1997).

However, the specific term indigenous peoples has a more restrictive interpretation when it used in the more formalised, legalistic and academic sense, associated with the collective rights of human populations. In these contexts, the term is used to denote particular peoples and groups around the world who, as well as being native to or associated with some given territory, meet certain other criteria (such as having reached a social and technological plateau thousands of years ago). This article is concerned with the latter, and not the former, sense of the term.

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 (such as the Maya peoples of Mexico and Central America) through to those who as yet remain in comparative isolation from any external influence (such as the Sentinelese and Jarawa of the Andaman Islands). The Maya peoples constitute a diverse range of the Native American peoples of southern Mexico and northern Central America. The Sentinelese (also Sentineli, Senteneli, Sentenelese, North Sentinel Islanders) are one of the Andamanese Indigenous The Jarawa (also Järawa, Jarwa) are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Andaman Islands. The Andaman Islands are a group of islands in the Bay of Bengal, and are part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory of India.

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^[3] to 350 million^[4] as of the start of the 21st century. The 21st century is the current century of the Christian Era or Common Era in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. This would equate to just under 6% of the total world population. The world population is the total number of living Humans on Earth at a given time This includes at least 5000 distinct peoples^[5] 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. Some have also been assimilated by other populations or have undergone many other changes. In other cases, indigenous populations are undergoing a recovery or expansion in numbers.

Certain indigenous societies survive even though they may no longer inhabit their "traditional" lands, owing to migration, relocation, forced resettlement or having been supplanted by other cultural groups. In many other respects, the transformation of culture of indigenous groups is ongoing, and includes permanent loss of language, loss of lands, encroachment on traditional territories, and disruption in traditional lifeways due to contamination and pollution of waters and lands. Transformation of culture, or cultural change, refers to the dynamic process whereby the living Cultures of the world are changing and adapting to external or internal

Common characteristics

Characteristics common across many indigenous groups include present or historical reliance upon subsistence-based production (based on pastoral, horticultural and/or hunting and gathering techniques), and a predominantly non-urbanized society. Subsistence is the food necessary to sustain life The following is a list of subsistence techniques: Hunting and Gathering Pastoralism or pastoral farming is the branch of Agriculture concerned with the raising of Livestock. Horticulture is the art and science of plant cultivation Horticulturists (or horticuluralists) work and conduct research in the fields of Plant propagation A hunter-gatherer society is one whose primary subsistence method involves the direct procurement of edible plants and animals from the wild Foraging and Hunting Urbanizationn (also spelled urbanisation) is the physical growth of Urban areas into rural or natural land as a result of population in-migration to an existing Indigenous societies may be either settled in a given locale/region or exhibit a nomadic lifestyle across a large territory. Nomadic people, (from the νομάδες nomádes, "those who let pasture herds" also known as nomads, are communities of people that Indigenous societies are found in every inhabited climate zone and continent of the world. The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems It was developed by Wladimir Köppen, a German climatologist A continent is one of several large Landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by Convention rather than any strict criteria with seven regions

Common concerns

Indigenous peoples confront a diverse range of concerns associated with their status and interaction with other cultural groups, as well as changes in their inhabited environment. Some challenges are specific to particular groups; however, other challenges are commonly experienced. Bartholomew Dean and Jerome Levi (2003) explore why and how the circumstances of indigenous peoples are improving in some places of the world, while their human rights continue to be abused in others. ^[6] These issues include cultural and linguistic preservation, land rights, ownership and exploitation of natural resources, political determination and autonomy, environmental degradation and incursion, poverty, health, and discrimination. Land rights are those Property rights that pertain to Real estate land Natural resources are naturally occurring substances that are considered valuable in their relatively unmodified ( natural) form See also Natural environment The '''biophysical''' environment is the symbiosis between the physical environment and the Biological Poverty (also called penury) is deprivation of common necessities that determine the quality of life including food clothing shelter and safe Drinking water, and Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease prolonging life and promoting health through the organised efforts and informed choices of society organisations Unlike most discrimination policies discrimination between, which is the discernment of qualities and recognition of the differences focused here discrimination against is

The interaction between indigenous and non-indigenous societies throughout history has been complex, ranging from outright conflict and subjugation to some degree of mutual benefit and cultural transfer. A particular aspect of anthropological study involves investigation into the ramifications of what is termed first contact, the study of what occurs when two cultures first encounter one another. Anthropology (/ˌænθɹəˈpɒlədʒi/ from Greek grc ἄνθρωπος anthrōpos, "human" -λογία -logia) is the study of First contact is a term describing the first meeting of two Cultures previously unaware of one another The situation can be further confused when there is a complicated or contested history of migration and population of a given region, which can give rise to disputes about primacy and ownership of the land and resources.

Historical indigenous cultures

The migration, expansion and settlement of societies throughout different territories is a universal, almost defining thread which runs through the entire course of human history. Human migration denotes any movement by Humans from one locality to another sometimes over long distances or Prehistory See also Prehistory Paleolithic See also Paleolithic, Recent African Origin, Early Homo sapiens 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 archaeological, linguistic or other reconstructive means. Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos Historical linguistics (also called diachronic linguistics) is the study of language change Where accounts do exist, they frequently originate from the viewpoint of the colonizing, expansionary or nascent state.

Classical antiquity

Greek sources of the Classical period acknowledge the prior existence of indigenous people(s), whom they referred to as "Pelasgians. The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca The name Pelasgians (from Ancient Greek grc Πελασγοί Pelasgoí, singular Πελασγός Pelasgós) was used by some ancient Greek " These peoples inhabited lands surrounding the Aegean Sea before the subsequent migrations of the Hellenic ancestors claimed by these authors. Etymology In ancient times there were various explanations for the name Aegean. The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca The disposition and precise identity of this former group is elusive, and sources such as Homer, Hesiod and Herodotus give varying, partially mythological accounts. Homer ( Ancient Greek:, Homēros) is a legendary ancient Greek epic Poet, traditionally said to be the author of the epic poems the Hesiod ( Greek: Hesiodos) was an early Greek Poet and Rhapsode, who presumably lived around 700 BCE Herodotus of Halicarnassus ( Greek: Hēródotos Halikarnāsseús) was a Greek Historian who lived in the 5th century BC ( 484 BC&ndash The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" 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). "Barbarian" is a pejorative term for an uncivilized person either in a general reference to a member of a nation or Ethnos perceived

European expansion and colonialism

The rapid and extensive spread of the various European powers from the early 18th century onwards had a profound impact upon many of the indigenous cultures with whom they came into contact. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system The 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. The Age of Discovery or Age of Exploration was a period from the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century during which Europeans explored The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions

Europe

The Canary Islands had an indigenous population called the Guanches whose origin is still the subject of discussion among historians and linguists. The Canary Islands ( English pronunciation kəˈnæriː ˈaɪləndz Spanish: Islas Canarias, ˈizlas kaˈnarjas are a Spanish See also Canary Islands in pre-colonial times Guanches (also Guanchis or Guanchos) now extinct as a distinct people were the first known ^[7]

Contemporary distribution and survey

See also: List of indigenous peoples

Indigenous populations are distributed in regions throughout the globe. See also Indigenous peoples This is a selected list of the world's indigenous peoples. 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 article: 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 indigenous peoples of Africa are those Peoples of Africa whose way of life, attachment or claims to particular lands and social and political standing in relation The highly-diverse and numerous ethnic groups which comprise most modern, independent African states contain within them various peoples whose situation, cultures and pastoralist or hunter-gatherer lifestyles are generally marginalised and set apart from the dominant political and economic structures of the nation. Pastoralism or pastoral farming is the branch of Agriculture concerned with the raising of Livestock. A hunter-gatherer society is one whose primary subsistence method involves the direct procurement of edible plants and animals from the wild Foraging and Hunting Since the late 20th century these peoples have increasingly sought recognition of their rights as distinct indigenous peoples, in both national and international contexts. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on

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. Human migration denotes any movement by Humans from one locality to another sometimes over long distances or 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. Nomadic people, (from the νομάδες nomádes, "those who let pasture herds" also known as nomads, are communities of people that The Tuareg (also Twareg or Touareg, Amazigh: Imuhagh / Itargiyen, besides regional ethnyms are a Nomadic The Sahara (الصحراء الكبرى aṣ-ṣaḥrā´ al-kubra, "The Great Desert" is the world's largest hot Desert and the world's second largest See also Sahel Tunisia, a region of eastern Tunisia. The Sahel or Sahel Belt (from Arabic ساحل sāḥil The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights ( ACHPR) is a Quasi-judicial body tasked with promoting and protecting Human rights and collective

The 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 San and Pygmy peoples are physically distinct, which makes them subject to specific forms of discrimination. The Bushmen, San, Sho, Basarwa, ǃKung or Khwe are indigenous people of southern Africa that spans most areas of South Africa Pygmies (singular Pygmy) refers to a member of any human group whose adult males grow to less than 150 cm (4 feet 11 inches in average height or less than 155 cm

With respect to concerns expressed that identifying some groups and not others as indigenous is in itself discriminatory, IPACC states that it:

• ". Unlike most discrimination policies discrimination between, which is the discernment of qualities and recognition of the differences focused here discrimination against is . . 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 (ACHPR), sponsored by the African Union (AU) (successor body to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)). The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights ( ACHPR) is a Quasi-judicial body tasked with promoting and protecting Human rights and collective The African Union (abbreviated AU in English, and UA in its other working languages is a Confederation consisting of 53  African The Organisation of African Unity ( OAU) or Organisation de l'Unité Africaine ( OUA) was established on 25 May 1963. 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 article: Indigenous peoples of the Americas

See also: Category:Indigenous peoples of the Americas

Indigenous peoples of 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. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America e. , Pre-Columbian). The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences 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 Arctic is the Region around the Earth 's North Pole, opposite the Antarctic region around the South Pole. Tierra del Fuego ( Spanish for " Land of Fire " in English tiˈɛərə dɛl ˈfweɪgoʊ] Spanish ˈtjerað̞elˈfweɰo is an Archipelago

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 decline due to the ravages of various epidemic diseases (smallpox, measles, etc), displacement, conflict and exploitation. The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States ( Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana) The start of the European colonization of the Americas is typically dated to 1492 although there was at least one earlier colonization effort It is thought that up to 100 million indigenous people may have lived in The Americas when the 1492 voyage of Christopher Columbus began a historical period of large-scale In Epidemiology, an epidemic (from Greek epi- upon + demos people is a classification of a disease that appears as new cases in a A disease is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions and can be deadly Smallpox is an Infectious disease unique to humans caused by either of two virus variants named Variola major and Variola minor. Measles (rubeola is a Disease caused by a virus specifically a Paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. The extent of this impact is the subject of much continuing debate. Several peoples shortly thereafter became extinct, or very nearly so. In Biology and Ecology, extinction is the cessation of existence of a Species or group of taxa.

All nations in North and South America have populations of indigenous peoples within their borders. A nation is a Human Cultural and Social Community. In as much as most members never meet each other yet feel a common bond it may be considered In some countries (particularly Latin American), indigenous peoples form a sizeable component of the overall national population--in Bolivia they account for an estimated 56%-70% of the total nation, and at least half of the population in Guatemala and the Andean and Amazonian nations of Peru. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. A nation is a Human Cultural and Social Community. In as much as most members never meet each other yet feel a common bond it may be considered Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. In English, indigenous peoples are collectively referred to by several different terms which vary by region and include such ethnoynms as Native Americans, Amerindians, Indians. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. In Spanish or Portuguese speaking countries one finds the use of terms such as pueblos indígenas, povos, nativos, indígenas, and in Peru, Comunidades Nativas, particularly among Amazonian societies like the Urarina and Matsés. The Urarina are an Indigenous people of the Peruvian Amazon Basin ( Loreto) who inhabit the Chambira, Urituyacu and Corrientes Rivers The Matsés or Mayoruna are an indigenous Tribe of the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon.

The Aboriginal peoples in Canada include the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. Aboriginal people in Canada, also known as Canadian aboriginal citizens, are people who belong to recognized indigenous groups in the Canadian Constitution Act First Nations is a term of Ethnicity that refers to the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis people Inuit (plural the singular Inuk, means "man" or "person" is a general term for a group of culturally similar Indigenous peoples inhabiting A Métis is a person born to parents who belong to different groups defined by visible physical differences regarded as racial or the descendant of such persons The combined indigenous population is over a million (1,172,790). This means they represent 3. 8% of the Canadian population. Their status is recognized by Canada's Constitution Act, 1982. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Constitution Act 1982 (Schedule B of the Canada Act 1982 (UK is a part of the Constitution of Canada. ^[9] The Inuit have achieved a degree of administrative autonomy with the creation in 1999 of the territories of Nunavik (in Northern Quebec), Nunatsiavut (in Northern Labrador) and Nunavut, which was until 1999 a part of the Northwest Territories. Nunavik (ᓄᓇᕕᒃ comprises the northern third of the province of Quebec, Canada. Nunavut (ˈnuːnəvʊt ( Inuktitut syllabics: ᓄᓇᕗᑦ is the largest and newest territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the The self-administering Danish territory of Greenland is also home to a majority population of indigenous Inuit (about 85%). The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat meaning "Land of the Greenlanders" Grønland is a self-governing Danish Province located between the

In the United States, the combined populations of Native Americans, Inuit and other indigenous designations totalled 2,786,652 (constituting about 1. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States 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 6,011,202 (constituting about 6. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. 7% of 2005 Mexican census figures) identify as indígenas (Spanish for natives or indigenous peoples). In the southern states of Chiapas, Yucatan and Oaxaca they constitute 26. Chiapas is the southernmost state of Mexico, located towards the southeast of the country Yucatán is one of the 31 states of Mexico, located on the north of the Yucatán Peninsula. The Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca), in Spanish phonemically /oa'xaka/ named for its largest city, is one of the 1%, 33. 5% and 35. 3%, respectively, 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 EZLN). The Zapatista Army of National Liberation ( Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, EZLN) is an armed Revolutionary group based in Chiapas

The Amerindians make up 0. 4% of Brazil's population, or about 700,000 people. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld ^[10] Indigenous peoples are found in the entire territory of Brazil, although the majority of them live in Indian reservations in the North and Centre-Western part of the country. On 18 January 2007, FUNAI reported that it had confirmed the presence of 67 different uncontacted tribes in Brazil, up from 40 in 2005. Uncontacted peoples are peoples who either by choice or chance live or have lived without significant contact with the 'modern' civilizations of the world With this addition Brazil has now overtaken the island of New Guinea as the country having the largest number of uncontacted tribes. New Guinea, located just north of Australia, is the world's second largest island, having become separated from the Australian mainland when the area now known ^[11]

Asia

Main article: 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 IWGIA figures. See also Indigenous peoples This is a selected list of the world's indigenous peoples.

The most substantial populations are in India, which constitutionally recognises a range of "Scheduled Tribes" within its borders. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country This is a full list of Scheduled Tribes in India, as recognised in India 's Constitution a total of 645 distict tribes 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). Ādivāsīs (in Devanagari script: आदिवासी literally "original inhabitants" comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population

The languages of Taiwanese aborigines have significance in historical linguistics, since in all likelihood Taiwan was the place of origin of the entire Austronesian language family, which is spread across the whole of Oceania. Taiwanese aborigines ( Taiwanese Pe̍h-oē-jī: gôan-chū-bîn literally “original inhabitants” is the term commonly applied in reference to the Indigenous peoples Historical linguistics (also called diachronic linguistics) is the study of language change ^[12][13][14]

Indigenous peoples of Iran include the Bakhtiari, Laks, Lurs, Kurds, and Qashqai. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The Bakhtiari (or Bakhtiyari Bakhtyari) are a group of southwestern Iranians. The Laks are an Iranian ethnic group in southwestern Iran. They speak Laki (or Lekí) a Western Iranian language. Lors (also Lurs Persianلر are a branch of Iranian people living mostly in south-western Iran. Qashqai (qaʃqaːʔiː also spelled Ghashghai, Qashqay and Qashqa'i) are a Turkic people living in Iran. The Assyrians and Marsh Arabs are also indigenous to areas of the geocultural region of Mesopotamia which includes parts of Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. The Assyrians are an Ethnic group whose origins lie in what is today Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria. The Marsh Arabs (عرب الأهوار ˤArab al-Ahwār "Arabs of the Marshlands" also known as the Maˤdān (معدان are inhabitants of the Mesopotamia (from the Greek meaning "land between the rivers" is an area geographically located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers largely corresponding For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches The Lurs also inhabit parts of Iraq close to the Iranian border with the provinces of Lorestan and Ilam. Lorestān ( Persian and Luri لرستان also Luristan) comprises a province and a historic territory of western Iran amidst the Īlām, also Elam Kurdish, is one of the 30 provinces of Iran.

Ainu people are an ethnic group indigenous to Hokkaidō, the Kuril Islands, and much of Sakhalin. ʔáinu (also called Ezo in historical texts are an ethnic group indigenous to Hokkaidō, the Kuril Islands, and much of Sakhalin. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan 's The Kuril Islands (ˈkʊrɪl or /ˈkjuˈriˈl/ Кури́льские острова́ əstrʌˈva ru-Latn ''Kuril'skie ostrova'' or Kurile Islands in Russia Sakhalin (Сахали́н səxʌˈlʲin Japanese:nihongo|樺太|karafuto or; Chinese: 庫頁 Kùyè also Saghalien, is a large elongated As Japanese settlement expanded, the Ainu were pushed northward, until by the Meiji period they were confined by the government to a small area in Hokkaidō, in a manner similar to the placing of Native Americans on reservations. The, or Meiji era, denotes the 45-year reign of the Meiji Emperor, running in the Gregorian calendar, from 23 October 1868 to 30 July

Europe

Main article: Indigenous peoples of Europe

See also: Category:Indigenous peoples of Europe and European ethnic groups

Since most of Europe in historical times was never colonized by non-European powers with lasting effect (arguably except for Hungary, Turkish Thrace, Tatarstan, Kalmykia and islands such as Malta or Cyprus^[15]), the vast majority of Europeans can be considered "indigenous". Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic East Thrace, or Eastern Thrace (Източна Тракия Iztochna Trakiya; Ανατολική Θράκη or Turkish Thrace, is the part of the modern Republic of Tatarstan (Респу́блика Татарста́н Татарстан Республикасы|Tatarstan Respublikası is a federal subject of the Russian The Republic of Kalmykia (Респу́блика Калмы́кия Kalmyk: Хальмг Таңһч is a federal subject of the Russian Federation (a Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía However several widely-accepted formulations, which define the term "Indigenous peoples" in stricter terms, have been put forward by important internationally-recognised organizations, such as the United Nations, the International Labour Organization and the World Bank. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The International Labour Organization The World Bank is an internationally supported Bank that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs (e Indigenous peoples in this article is used in such a narrower sense.

In Europe, present-day recognized indigenous populations are relatively few, mainly confined to northern and far-eastern reaches of this Eurasian peninsula. For the superstate in George Orwell 's novel see Nations of Nineteen Eighty-Four. Whilst there are various 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 Nenets and other Samoyedic peoples of the northern Russian Federation, and the Komi peoples of the western Urals. The Sami people are the Indigenous people of northern Europe inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of northern Sweden, Norway Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well The Nenets people ( Ethnonym in Nenets language: ненэця Russian name ненцы IPA: (plural--> The term Samoyedic peoples is used to describe peoples speaking a Samoyedic language. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Komi (obsolete Komi-Zyrians live in the Komi Republic, Perm Krai, Murmansk Oblast, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Riphean redirects here For the time period see Riphean stage The Ural Mountains (Ура́льские го́ры Uralskiye

The Basque people, indigenous people who inhabit northern Spain and southwestern France, are the oldest indigenous ethnic group in Europe. The Basques (Euskaldunak are a people who inhabit a region spanning over parts of north-central Spain and southwestern France. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The main theory about Basque origins suggests that they are a remnant of Paleolithic Europeans inhabiting continuously the Franco-Cantabrian region since at least Magdalenian times, and maybe as early as the original colonization of Europe by Homo sapiens. The origin of the Basque people has been shrouded in mystery The Basques have occupied much the same area of northern Spain and southern France for thousands The term Paleolithic (or Palaeolithic) (from Greek παλαιός palaios, " Old " and λίθος Lithos, "stone" The Franco-Cantabrian region (also Franco-Cantabric region) is a term applied in Archaeology and History to refer to an area that stretches from The Magdalenian, also spelled Magdalénien refers to one of the later cultures of the Upper Palaeolithic in Western Europe. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus The only archaeological evidence for an invasion of the Basque Country dates to some 40,000 years ago when Cro-Magnon people first arrived in Europe and superseded Homo neanderthalensis. Cro-Magnon ( French) is one of the main types of Homo sapiens of the European Upper Paleolithic, living approximately 40000 to 10000 years The Neanderthal (neɪˈændərtɑːl also with /niː-/ and /-θɔːl/ or Neandertal, is an extinct member of the Homo genus that is known from ^[16]

Caucasus is unique in its ethnic diversity, with a greater variety of languages spoken there than in any region of similar size in the world. The Caucasus ( also referred to as North Caucasus) is a geopolitical region located between Europe Asia & Middle East The languages of the Caucasus are a large and extremely varied array of languages spoken by more than ten million people in and around the Caucasus Mountains which lie between Caucasus region is the home of over 50 indigenous ethnic groups. This article deals with the various Ethnic groups inhabiting the Caucasus region ^[17][18]

Oceania

Main article: 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. The indigenous peoples of Oceania are those peoples identified as Indigenous peoples, as per the modern global definition of the term The Pacific Ocean contains an estimated 20000 to 30000 Islands (the exact number has yet to be precisely determined Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a Subregion of Oceania, comprising a large grouping of over Melanesia (from Greek: μέλας black, νῆσος island) means "islands of the black-skinned people" Micronesia, from the Greek mikros (μικρός (meaning small) and nesos (νῆσος (meaning island) is a Subregion European colonial expansion in the Pacific brought many of these under non-indigenous administration. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions 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 of the Marshall Islands. "Chamoru" redirects here For the language see Chamorro language. Guam ( Chamorro: cha Guåhån) officially the Territory of Guam, is an island in the western Pacific Ocean and is an organized unincorporated The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI is a commonwealth in Political union with the United The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI is a Micronesian nation of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean

In most parts of Oceania, indigenous peoples outnumber the descendents of colonists. Exceptions include Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the According to the 2001 Australian census, Indigenous Australians make up 2. Indigenous Australians are descendants of the first known human inhabitants of the Australian continent and its nearby islands. 4% of the total population, while in New Zealand 14. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island 6% of the population identify at least partially as indigenous Māori, with slightly more than half (53%) of all Māori residents identifying solely as Māori. This article discusses the Māori people of New Zealand For their language see Māori language, and for other meanings see Māori (disambiguation. Indigenous Hawaiians make up nearly a quarter of the general Hawaiian population. "Kanaka" redirects here For the Tamil actress see Kanaka (actress.

The independent state of 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. Papua New Guinea (or ˈpæpjuːə in Tok Pisin: Papua Niugini) officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania 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.

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. Nikolai Getman (Николай Гетман Микола Ґетьман an artist was born in 1917 in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and died at his home in Orel, 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, it 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, and the Canadian Inuit, who form a majority of the territory of Nunavut (created in 1999). Yakuts, self-designation Sakha, are a Turkic -speaking people associated with the Sakha (Yakutia Republic. Komi (obsolete Komi-Zyrians live in the Komi Republic, Perm Krai, Murmansk Oblast, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Siberia (Сиби́рь Sibir) is the name given to the vast region constituting almost all of Northern Asia and for the most part currently serving Inuit (plural the singular Inuk, means "man" or "person" is a general term for a group of culturally similar Indigenous peoples inhabiting Nunavut (ˈnuːnəvʊt ( Inuktitut syllabics: ᓄᓇᕗᑦ is the largest and newest territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the

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. Cultural diversity encompasses the cultural differences that exist between people such as language dress and traditions and the way societies organize themselves their conception of

An example of this occurred in 2002 when the Government of Botswana expelled all the Kalahari Bushmen known as the San from their lands [2] on which they had lived for at least twenty thousand years [3]. The Republic of Botswana (Lefatshe la Botswana is a Landlocked nation in Southern Africa. President Festus Mogai has described the Bushmen as "stone age creatures" [4] and a minister for local government, Margaret Nasha, likened public criticism of their eviction to criticism of the culling of elephants [5]. The Bushmen, San, Sho, Basarwa, ǃKung or Khwe are indigenous people of southern Africa that spans most areas of South Africa Elephants ( family: Elephantidae) are large land Mammals of the order Proboscidea. In 2006, the Botswanan High Court ruled that the Bushmen had a right to return to their land in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve [6][7]. Central Kalahari Game Reserve is an extensive national park in the Kalahari desert of Botswana.

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.

Representation

The rights, claims and even identity of indigenous peoples are apprehended, acknowledged and observed quite differently from government to government. Human rights refers to the "basic Rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled 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.

In cooperation, representatives of indigenous peoples have met in The World Council of Indigenous Peoples (WCIP), which held its first conference in British Columbia in 1975. The World Council of Indigenous Peoples ( WCIP) was a formal international body dedicated to having concepts of aboriginal rights accepted on a worldwide scale Cooperation has continued in the research and education organization The Center for World Indigenous Studies (CWIS), founded in 1984, in Olympia, Washington, USA. The Center for World Indigenous Studies was founded in 1984 by Dr

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). The Working Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP was a subsidiary body within the structure of the United Nations. In April 2000 the United Nations Commission on Human Rights adopted a resolution to establish the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII) as an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council with a mandate to review indigenous issues. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights ( UNCHR) was a functional commission within the overall framework of the United Nations. The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (acronym UNPFII or PFII) is an advisory body within the framework of the United Nations System The Economic and Social Council ( ECOSOC) of the United Nations assists the General Assembly in promoting international economic and social cooperation

In late December 2004, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2005-2014 to be the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. Membership For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly see General Assembly members 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.

In September 2007, after a process of preparations, discussions and negotiations stretching back to 1982, the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly during its 62nd session at UN Headquarters The non-binding declaration outlines the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples, as well as their rights to identity, culture, language, employment, health, education and other issues. Four nations with significant indigenous populations voted against the declaration: the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Eleven nations abstained: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Colombia, Georgia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia, Samoa and Ukraine. Azerbaijan ( English; Azərbaycan officially the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan Respublikası is the largest and most populous country in the South ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially The Kingdom of Bhutan (buːˈtɑːn is a Landlocked nation in South Asia. Burundi (buˈɾundi officially the Republic of Burundi, is a small country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. Georgia ( საქართველო, Sakartvelo) is a Transcontinental country in the Caucasus region situated at the dividing line between The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa, is a country governing the western part of the Samoan Islands Archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. Thirty-four nations did not vote, while the remaining 143 nations voted for it.

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:

• African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR)
• Society for Threatened Peoples International (STP)
• International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)
• Indigenous Peoples of Africa Co-ordinating Committee (IPACC)
• Movement in the Amazon for Tribal Subsistence and Economic Sustainability
• Survival International
• Indigenous Dialogues
• Cultural Survival

International Day of the World's Indigenous People

The International Day of the World's Indigenous People falls on August 9 as this was the date of the first meeting in 1982 of the United Nations Working Group of Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities of the Commission on Human Rights. The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs ( IWGIA) is an independent and non-profit international Human rights -based Membership organization, whose Survival International is a Human rights organisation formed in 1969 that campaigns for the rights of indigenous Tribal peoples and The Indigenous Dialogues Foundation ( Indiĝenaj Dialogoj or ID) was an international project which sought to empower organisations of Indigenous peoples Cultural Survival (founded 1972 is a nonprofit group based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA which is dedicated to defending the Human rights Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus

The UN General Assembly decided on 23 December 1994, that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People should be observed on August 9 every year during the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (resolution 49/214). Later on 20 December 2004 the assembly decided to continue observing the International Day of Indigenous People every year during the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (2005-2014) (resolution 59/174). ^[19]

Indigenous knowledge and culture

Main article: Traditional knowledge

Indigenous societies possess an often unique body of cultural and environmental knowledge. Traditional knowledge (TK indigenous knowledge (IK and local knowledge generally refer to the matured long-standing Traditions and practices of Knowledge is defined ( Oxford English Dictionary) variously as (i expertise and skills acquired by a person through experience or education the theoretical or practical understanding The preservation and investigation of specialised 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 rainforests). Traditional knowledge (TK indigenous knowledge (IK and local knowledge generally refer to the matured long-standing Traditions and practices of The Amazon Rainforest (Brazilian Portuguese: Floresta Amazônica or Amazônia; Spanish: Selva Amazónica or Amazonía

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. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and GRAIN is an international Non-governmental organization based in Barcelona, Spain, which works toward Sustainable agriculture. The Third World Network is an international network of organizations and individuals Biopiracy is a negative term for the appropriation generally by means of Patents, of legal rights over indigenous knowledge - particularly indigenous biomedical knowledge Natural resources are naturally occurring substances that are considered valuable in their relatively unmodified ( natural) form A patent is a set of Exclusive rights granted by a State to an inventor or his assignee for a fixed period of time in exchange for a disclosure of an A controversial case of biopiracy was reported on human genes of a tribal community reported to be resistant to malaria and leprosy. Malaria is a vector -borne Infectious disease caused by Protozoan Parasites It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions including Leprosy (from the Greek lepi (λέπι meaning scales on a fish or Hansen's disease, is a chronic disease caused by the bacterium

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

Indigenous people are increasingly faced with threats to their sovereignty, environment, and access to natural resources. Examples of this can be the deforestation of tropical rainforests where many native tribe's subsistence lifestyles are threatened.

Non-indigenous viewpoints

Indigenous peoples have been identified as primitives, savages, or uncivilized. These terms were common during the height of European colonial expansion, but still continue in modern times. ^[20] By the 17th century, indigenous peoples were commonly labeled "uncivilized". Proponents of civilization, like Thomas Hobbes, considered them merely savages; Enlightenment philosophers such as Jean Jacques Rousseau, considered them to be "noble savages". A Civilization is a society in which large numbers of people share a variety of common elements Thomas Hobbes (born 5 April 1588died 4 December 1679 was an English philosopher, whose famous 1651 book Leviathan established the foundation In the eighteenth-century cult of " Primitivism " the noble savage, uncorrupted by the influences of civilization was considered more worthy more authentically noble Those who were close to the Hobbesian view tended to believe themselves to have a duty to civilize and modernize indigenes. A Civilization is a society in which large numbers of people share a variety of common elements 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). A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally consists of a Social group existing before the development of or outside of States Many anthropologists use Sociocultural evolution(ism is an umbrella term for theories of cultural evolution and Social evolution, describing how Cultures and societies Survival International runs a campaign to stamp out media portrayal of indigenous peoples as 'primitive' or 'savages'. Survival International is a Human rights organisation formed in 1969 that campaigns for the rights of indigenous Tribal peoples and

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 "civilized" and "savage" were products and tools of colonialism, and argued that colonialism itself was savagely destructive. A Civilization is a society in which large numbers of people share a variety of common elements See Colony and Colonization for examples of colonialism which do not refer to Western colonialism

In the mid 20th century, European attitudes began to shift to the view that indigenous and tribal peoples should have the right to decide for themselves what should happen to their ancient cultures and their ancestral lands. Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate" generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic

Several criticisms of the concept of indigenous peoples are:

• Some critics of Native American tribes claim that the people termed indigenous arrived in an area after the people termed non-indigenous. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States.
• 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. The Zulu ( IsiZulu: amaZulu) are the largest South African ethnic group of an estimated 10-11 million people who live mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

References

• 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)
• Report of the African Commission's Working Group of Experts on Indigenous Populations/Communities, November 2003
• FRITZ Jean-Claude, La nouvelle question indigène. Peuples autochthones et ordre mondial (en co-direction avec Frédéric Déroche, Gérard Fritz et Raphaël Porteilla), Paris, L'Harmattan, 2006.
• FRITZ Jean-Claude, L'humanité face à la mondialisation. Droit des peuples et environnement (en co-direction avec Charalambos Apostolidis et Gérard Fritz), Paris, L'Harmattan, 1997.
• Indigenous Peoples and Environmental Issues: An Encyclopedia, by Bruce E. Johansen. Westport, CT, Greenwood Press, 2003. 506p. , ISBN 0-313-32398-4
• Henriksen, John B. (2001), “Implementation of the Right of Self-Determination of Indigenous Peoples”, Indigenous Affairs (Copenhagen: International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs) 3/2001: pp. 6–21, ISSN 1024-3283, OCLC 30685615, <http://www.iwgia.org/graphics/Synkron-Library/Documents/publications/Downloadpublications/IndigenousAffairs/selfdetermination.pdf>. An International Standard Serial Number ( ISSN) is a unique eight-digit number used to identify a print or electronic Periodical publication. The OCLC Online Computer Library Center is according to its website a "nonprofit membership computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purpose Retrieved on 1 September 2007 

See also

• Collective rights
• Colonialism
• Ethnic minority
• Human rights
• Indigenous intellectual property
• Intangible Cultural Heritage
• Traditional knowledge gis
• Uncontacted peoples
• Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
• List of ethnic groups
• Indigenous people of the Everglades region

External links

Institutions

• UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UN PFII)
• Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa, African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR)
• UNEP Indigenous People's Website
• IFAD and indigenous peoples (International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD)
• Working Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP)
• International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)
• IPS Inter Press Service News on indigenous peoples from around the world
• Indigenous Peoples Center for Documentation, Research and Information (doCip)
• Australia Regrets For Its Aboriginal Natives

Indigenous studies

• WWW Virtual Library- Indigenous studies resources
• Center for World Indigenous Studies (CWIS)
• Janssen, D. See Colony and Colonization for examples of colonialism which do not refer to Western colonialism Human rights refers to the "basic Rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled Indigenous intellectual property is an umbrella legal term used in national and international forums to identify Indigenous peoples ' special rights to claim (from within The notion of intangible cultural heritage (ICH emerged in the 90s as a counter part to the World Heritage that focusses mainly on tangible aspects of culture Traditional knowledge Geographic Information Systems (GIS are the data techniques and technologies designed to document and utilize local knowledges in communities around the world Uncontacted peoples are peoples who either by choice or chance live or have lived without significant contact with the 'modern' civilizations of the world The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization ( UNPO) formed in 1991 is a democratic International organization. The indigenous people of the Everglades region arrived in the Florida Peninsula approximately 15000 years ago probably following large game F. , Growing Up Sexually. Volume I. World Reference Atlas [full text]

Journals

• Bemaadizing: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Indigenous Life (An online journal)

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