International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

“The indigenous understanding has its basis of spirituality in a recognition of the interconnectedness and interdependence of all living things, a holistic and balanced view of the world.”- Rebecca Adamson. Indigenous Peoples are distinct social and cultural groups that share collective ancestral ties to the lands and natural resources where they live, occupy or from which they have been displaced. The land and natural resources on which they depend are inextricably linked to their identities, cultures, livelihoods, as well as their physical and spiritual well-being. They often subscribe to their customary leaders and organizations for representation that is distinct or separate from those of the mainstream society or culture. The World Bank adds that many Indigenous Peoples still maintain a language distinct from the official language or languages of the country or region in which they reside; however, many have also lost their languages or are on the precipice of extinction due to eviction from their lands and/or relocation to other territories. Did you know that there are an estimated 476 million Indigenous Peoples in the world living across 90 countries? They make up less than 6 per cent of the world's population, but account for at least 15 per cent of the poorest. They speak an overwhelming majority of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures. Unfortunately, at least 40% of the 7,000 languages used worldwide are at some level of endangerment. Indigenous languages are particularly vulnerable because many of them are not taught at school or used in the public sphere. The United Nations (UN) states that Indigenous Peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences, Indigenous Peoples from around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples. The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is observed on 9 August annually to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world's indigenous population. Despite their right to autonomy as enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact face unique challenges often overlooked by the surrounding world. Developments for agriculture, mining, tourism and natural resources in their territories are resulting in the deforestation of swathes of Indigenous Peoples’ forests, disrupting their way of life and destroying the natural environment that they have protected for generations. For Indigenous Peoples living in voluntary isolation, and initial contact, one of the most serious threats from external contact is the exposure to diseases. Due to their isolation, they do not have the immunological defenses to relatively common diseases. As such, forced contact with the outside world can lead to devastating consequences, and can destroy whole societies. The focus for International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples day ‘Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact’. Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact are the best protectors of the forest. Where their collective rights to lands and territories are protected, the forests thrive, alongside their societies. The protection of indigenous peoples rights are crucial to the protection of our planet, especially as it relates to cultural and linguistic diversity. The United Nations adds that indigenous Peoples have sought recognition of their identities, their way of life and their right to traditional lands, territories and natural resources for years. Yet, throughout history, their rights have been violated. Indigenous Peoples today, are arguably among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of people in the world. The international community now recognizes that special measures are required to protect their rights and maintain their distinct cultures and way of life. Protecting Indigenous Peoples Rights. Much of the land occupied by Indigenous Peoples is under customary ownership, yet many governments recognize only a fraction of this land as formally or legally belonging to Indigenous Peoples. Even when Indigenous territories and lands are recognized, protection of boundaries or use and exploitation of natural resources are often inadequate. Insecure land tenure is a driver of conflict, environmental degradation, and weak economic and social development. This threatens cultural survival and vital knowledge systems – loss in these areas increasing risks of fragility, biodiversity loss, and degraded One Health (or ecological and animal health) systems which threaten the ecosystem services upon which we all depend. Capacity Development and Advocacy. The contributions of indigenous peoples to the global community are frequently dismissed. Sadly, this dismissal is often rooted in a culture of fear and discrimination. Indigenous rights are under serious threat. A number of non-profit organizations have dedicated resources to work on behalf of indigenous peoples. Among them is the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA). The IWGIA is a global human rights organization dedicated to promoting, protecting and defending Indigenous Peoples’ rights. The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), states that Brazil has the largest known concentration of Indigenous Peoples in isolation in the states of Amap., Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, Acre, Amazonas, Goiás, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, and Tocantins. Currently, there are 107 records of the presence of Indigenous Peoples in isolation in the Amazon region. 502,783 individuals out of the Indigenous population in Brazil live in rural zones and 315,180 in urban zones. A total of 505 Indigenous Lands have been identified, covering 12.5% of Brazilian territory (106.7 million hectares). The majority of these territories are concentrated in the Amazon. Across Brazil, illegal logging, mining, poaching, and land grabbing in Indigenous lands increased by 137 percent in 2020, compared with 2018 according to the latest data by the Indigenist Missionary Council, a nonprofit organization. Indigenous Peoples in the Caribbean. We are the descendents of many peoples who have helped to shape our history and culture. Our main ethnicities are: Groups of Indigenous peoples, Africans, Indians, Europeans, Chinese and Portuguese. The indigenous groups such as the Tainos, Kalinago and Mayas have added to the rich and vibrant culture of Caribbean societies. The original inhabitants of Jamaica were the indigenous Taínos, an Arawak-speaking people who began arriving on Hispaniola by canoe from Belize and the Yucatan peninsula. In 1493, Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the so-called New World landed on a small island in the Caribbean now known as Dominica where he met a local people that called themselves the Kalinago. The community itself, however, managed to survive. For the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean what followed that first contact with Europeans would be nearly 500 years of resistance to colonial subjugation, massacre and enslavement. In 1903, the Kalinago gained tribal sovereignty. Like so many Indigenous groups across the globe, the Kalinago are confronting the constant threats of a changing climate and record-breaking heat waves. Gender and Indigenous Peoples. In indigenous communities, men and women have different gender roles and responsibilities and for that reason they also often have different needs, desires and interests. Traditionally, indigenous women were generally respected by indigenous men and had equal access to and control over collective land and natural resources. Indigenous women face significant challenges to the full enjoyment of their human rights. Indigenous women experience multiple forms of discrimination, often lack access to education, health care and ancestral lands, face disproportionately high rates of poverty and are subjected to violence, such as domestic violence and sexual abuse, including in the contexts of trafficking and armed conflict. As the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) has stated, globalization presents additional challenges in many parts of the world. Indigenous women’s roles have eroded due the compounding factors of loss of natural resources and depletion of the ecosystems, their transformation into cash economies, changes in local, social and decision-making structures, and their lack of political status within States. The United Nations states that there are exceptions provided by some indigenous matriarchal and other societies. For example, in some indigenous communities of South and South-East Asia, including indigenous nationalities of Nepal and certain tribes of India, Thailand and Cambodia, women enjoy a high social position and their status is not low in comparison to their male counterparts. Property is owned by both men and women in the communities of matriarchal Tharus of India, and women spend their income freely without any advice from their men relatives. In several matrilineal tribes such as Khasi, Garo and Jaintia of North-Eastern hills of India, women are entitled to hold exclusive land rights and inherit ancestral properties. More Effort Needed. Without a doubt governments need to redouble their efforts to ensure that indigenous peoples have access to the same services as the wider society such as education, health care and digital communications. Additionally, it is important that governments work assiduously to improve security of land tenure, strengthen governance, promote public investments in quality and culturally appropriate service provision, and support Indigenous systems for resilience and livelihoods. These practical measures are critical to reduce the multidimensional aspects of poverty while contributing to sustainable development and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples it is imperative that the international community uses this opportunity to draw global attention on the critical situation of many indigenous languages and to mobilize stakeholders and resources for their preservation, revitalization and promotion. In the words of Chief Joseph, the earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #InternationaldayoftheWorldsIndigenousPeoples