Indigenous peoples

Indigenous peoples are groups of people who have a strong connection to the lands where their ancestors lived. They have their own unique cultures, languages, and traditions that have been passed down for many generations. Today, there are estimated to be between 250 million and 600 million Indigenous people, belonging to about 5,000 different groups around the world.

These groups often find themselves as smaller parts within larger countries, sometimes facing challenges because of this. Even though many have dealt with changes brought by people from other places, their identity isn’t just about these outside influences.

International organizations like the United Nations have created important documents to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples. These rights include the ability to make their own decisions about their communities, keep their cultures alive, and maintain access to the lands and resources they need. Despite these efforts, Indigenous communities still face difficulties in protecting their way of life and the resources important to their traditions.

Etymology

The word "Indigenous" comes from the Latin word indigena, which means "sprung from the land, native". The Latin word indigena is built from the Old Latin word indu meaning "in, within" and gignere meaning "to beget, produce". Indu is a longer form of the Proto-Indo-European root en or "in".

Definitions

There is no generally accepted definition of Indigenous peoples in international law or the United Nations. Different groups and organizations have their own ways of describing who Indigenous peoples are.

Colorized photograph of an Amis couple in traditional clothing. Taken in pre–World War II Japanese-ruled Taiwan.

Historically, the term "indigenous" was first used by Europeans to describe the original people of the Americas, different from enslaved Africans brought there. In the 1970s, the term began to connect the experiences of colonized people around the world. The United Nations first met to discuss Indigenous populations in 1982.

Today, the idea of Indigenous peoples includes self-identification, cultural differences from other groups, a special connection to traditional lands, and experiences of being treated unfairly by dominant cultures.

Various organizations describe Indigenous peoples in different ways. The World Bank describes them as groups with strong ties to their ancestral lands. Scholars also offer definitions based on historical ties to land before colonization and a desire to preserve cultural identity. Some argue that the term "Indigenous" can be complicated and may pressure groups to appear unchanged over time.

History

Classical antiquity

In ancient times, Greek writers talked about people they called the "Pelasgians". These writers thought the Pelasgians might have been the ancestors of the Greeks or an earlier group who lived in Greece before them. Different ancient writers like Homer, Hesiod, and Herodotus told different stories about these people, sometimes mixing facts with myths. Later, a writer named Dionysius of Halicarnassus tried to make sense of all these stories and decided the Pelasgians were Greek.

Africa

In early African history, many people such as the Berbers, Copts, and Nubians became Christians when Europe ruled North Africa. Later, when Arab forces came in the 7th century, many Berbers were treated unfairly or forced to join armies. Still, many Berbers kept their old ways of life, moving and trading across Africa. The Coptic Egyptians held onto their land, language, and religion. By the 10th century, most people in North Africa spoke Arabic and followed Islam.

From 1402, the Guanche people of the Canary Islands fought against Spanish attempts to take over their islands. The islands were finally controlled by Spain in 1496.

Alonso Fernández de Lugo presenting the captured Guanche kings of Tenerife to Ferdinand and Isabella

In the early 1500s, Portuguese explorers traveled along Africa’s west coast, looking for gold and trying to spread their influence. They set up trading places and later traded goods, including people, for crops on distant islands. By 1488, Portuguese ships sailed around the southern tip of Africa, opening new trade routes to places like India and China.

In 1532, the first people from Africa were brought to the Americas as part of a trade that grew over the next centuries.

Americas

Indigenous peoples met Europeans as they sailed to new lands. The Europeans wanted trade, resources, to spread their beliefs, and to build new homes and military bases.

In 1492, the Arawak people of the Caribbean islands met Christopher Columbus and the Spanish. The Spanish took some natives as workers and made others work on farms and mines. Spanish settlements grew, and many natives died from diseases, poor food, and conflicts.

In the 1520s, Spanish explorers came to Mesoamerica looking for gold. Some natives joined with the Spanish to end rule by the Aztecs. The Spanish conquest brought diseases that weakened the Aztecs, helping the Spanish win.

Map with the main travels of the Age of Discovery (which began in the 15th century)

In 1530, the Spanish traveled to South America and faced the Inca Empire. The Inca, already weakened by sickness and internal conflicts, were defeated. The Spanish took control and set up new governments.

In the 1560s, the Spanish began settlements in Florida and later in New Mexico. But their main areas were New Spain (including Mexico and Central America) and Peru (most of South America).

In the 1600s, French, English, and Dutch set up trading posts along the Atlantic coast and rivers in North America. Natives sometimes worked with Europeans for trade or support, but new weapons and diseases made conflicts more deadly. Many natives lost land and lives to diseases and battles with settlers.

By 1800, Europeans and their descendants were the majority in North America, with many natives greatly reduced in number.

Natives also faced new animals and plants from Europe, changing their lands and ways of life.

Oceania

Depiction of a Spaniard entering Chalco with three Tlaxcalan soldiers and an Indigenous porter in the Lienzo de Tlaxcala (pre-1585)

In the 1700s, Europeans began visiting the Pacific islands. Natives of places like Tahiti and the Hawaiian Islands met explorers like Cook. More contact with Europeans brought diseases and changes, and later, these islands were taken over by other countries.

The Māori of New Zealand met Europeans in the 1700s and 1800s. Missionaries came and many Māori people became Christians. Their numbers fell due to diseases, and New Zealand became a British colony in 1841.

The Aboriginal inhabitants of Australia met Europeans when British settlers arrived in 1788. Many died from diseases, lost their land, and saw their cultures change greatly.

European justifications for colonization

From the 1400s to the 1800s, European countries used different reasons to justify taking lands from Indigenous peoples. They said they had a duty to share their beliefs, bring what they saw as civilization, and the right to explore and trade. They also believed they could claim land that wasn’t used in ways they understood.

Some European leaders used old rules from leaders who had said it was okay to take lands from people who didn’t share their beliefs. Others used different rules or actions to support their claims.

Settler independence and continuing colonialism

As European colonies grew, some settlers wanted more control. For example, settlers in thirteen British American colonies won independence in 1783, forming the United States of America. The new country kept many of the old rules about taking Indigenous lands.

Population and distribution

A map of uncontacted peoples, around the start of the 21st century

The number of Indigenous peoples in the world today is estimated to be between 250 million and 750 million. These people belong to around 5,000 different groups and live in many parts of the world.

In different places, what it means to be Indigenous can vary. In areas like the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand, Indigenous peoples are often those whose families lived there before European settlers arrived. But in places like Asia and Africa, the idea of being Indigenous can be more complex and sometimes disputed. In Europe, there are very few groups recognized as Indigenous, with some exceptions like the Sámi.

Indigenous peoples and the environment

Many people think that Indigenous communities only lived off the land as hunters and gatherers. But some believe Indigenous peoples carefully used and cared for their land. They say that thinking of nature as "wilderness" without people has led to removing Indigenous communities to keep areas "wild." This has stopped important traditions like controlled burns and planting seeds, which helped the land stay healthy.

Studies show that for thousands of years, Indigenous peoples managed their land in ways that kept many plants and animals thriving. Recently, scientists found that forests in places like Indonesia are disappearing faster than we thought. This shows that both local people and big companies are harming these areas.

Some groups, like the Penan people, have special ways to care for the forest without taking too much. But sometimes, others describe their traditions in ways that aren't true, which can cause problems.

In 2024, at a big meeting about protecting nature, countries agreed to let Indigenous peoples share their ideas and advice directly to help protect the world's plants and animals.