August 9: International Day of Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous people, also known as aboriginals, adivasis or natives, are the original inhabitants of a given region, in contrast to groups that have settled, occupied or colonized the area later.
They have a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories and are distinct from the other sectors of society now living there. Foreign or domestic incursions have devastated and decimated these peoples, robbing them of their lands and means of livelihood and deprived them of their natural rights as human beings.
In India, they are listed under “Scheduled Tribes.” They form the majority in some parts of India (e.g., the seven North-Eastern States), significant minorities in some states (e.g., Jharkhand, West Bengal and Central India) and smaller percentages in other parts of India.
Key Facts
- There are over 370 million indigenous peoples, living in more than 90 countries with at least 5000 diverse cultures and some 7000 languages. Estimates show that one indigenous language is dying every week.
- Indigenous peoples constitute about 5% of the world’s population…
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