What Are Indigenous Peoples?

Indigenous peoples are distinct social and cultural groups with collective ancestral ties to the lands and natural resources they inhabit, occupy, or from which they have been displaced. Often called "tribes" or "First Peoples," they are defined by:

1. Self-Identification: Distinct cultural heritage, language, social organization, spirituality; strong collective identity.
2. Historical Continuity: Long, unbroken connection to ancestral territories; traditions passed intergenerationally.
3. Unique Languages & Cultures: Distinct from dominant society.
4. Land & Territory: Special spiritual/cultural relationship; customary tenure and resource management.
5. Marginalization: Historical discrimination, assimilation policies, exclusion, higher poverty/health risks, human rights violations.
6. Collective Rights: Assert rights to lands, resources, self-determination—recognized in UNDRIP (UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples).