Indigenous peoples face challenges all over the world
Global Challenges
The United Nations (UN) established August 9 as "International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples" in 1994 to raise awareness about the needs of indigenous peoples. This year's theme emphasizes the necessity of protecting indigenous rights and highlights their cultural richness.
According to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, these groups are recognized as equal to other nations, and their cultural diversity is considered part of humanity's common heritage. The UN's website notes that about 476 million indigenous people live in 90 countries, constituting approximately 6% of the world's population. However, their traditional ways of life are increasingly threatened in the rapidly evolving world.
Indigenous communities face marginalization and discrimination across many parts of the globe. They are often excluded from decision-making processes on issues that directly affect them and struggle with extreme poverty, inadequate nutrition, and higher risks of displacement compared to other groups.
Assimilation Policies
Many indigenous scholars argue that the geographical discoveries made by Western societies since the 15th century have had detrimental effects on indigenous peoples. Western societies, claiming to bring civilization, attempted to assimilate indigenous populations through pressure and threats, forcing them to abandon their cultures, religions, and languages in favor of adopting "white" identities.
Displacement policies complemented these assimilation methods. Indigenous peoples, who continued to live on lands inherited from their ancestors, were often forced off their lands by colonial powers. These powers exploited the natural resources of the lands from which they had displaced the indigenous people.
Resistance and Cultural Preservation
Indigenous peoples have actively and passively resisted colonialism, striving to maintain their identities. They counteract imposed narratives of "white supremacy" by creating alternative discourses through literature, film, and other mediums that highlight the richness of indigenous cultures.
Many indigenous scholars emphasize the importance of preserving indigenous identity in their conference presentations and writings, addressing the harsh conditions faced by indigenous peoples.
Indigenous Populations by Country
The "Indigenous World 2024" report by the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) provides current statistics on indigenous populations. According to the report:
In China, where 55 "minority nations" are recognized, there are approximately 125 million 332 thousand indigenous people.
In India, the indigenous population is estimated at 104 million, although this number might be higher as many ethnic groups are not included in the statistics.
In Mexico, which has hosted many historic civilizations, 23.2 million people identify as indigenous.
In the United States, criticized for its historical policies towards indigenous peoples, it is estimated that between 3.1 to 8.7 million indigenous people live in the country.
The ongoing challenges and efforts of indigenous peoples to preserve their identities and rights remain crucial in the global context.
