The Leading Source for News, Reports, Videos, Articles and more on Indigenous People from around the World
Today, our world is experiencing a rapid decline in cultural diversity and the eradication of indigenous peoples and their lifeway. One in five people in the world speak the same language: Mandarin Chinese. Spoken by the largest single ethnic group in the world - the Han - whose 1.3 billion speakers represent 92 percent of the mainland Chinese population and 19 percent of the world's population, while 235 languages make up the other 8 percent of China's population. Likewise, in India - the world's second most populous country - there are 415 living, recognized indigenous languages, but the majority of people speak either Bengali or Hindi. Around the world linguists recognize some 6,000 to 7,000 spoken languages, of which 5,000 or so are spoken by indigenous peoples who represent an estimated 6 percent of the world's population.
Many of these indigenous people, their language, culture, and lifeways face a questionable future. The relatively rapid decline in language diversity parallels the decline in cultural diversity. These changes are due in part to the product of both historical relationships - imperialism, colonialism, global economic development, and militarism - as well as cultural beliefs that rationalize or justify actions that have served certain cultures at the cost of others. In many instances, this cost has been disproportionally sustained by indigenous peoples.
Indigenous Peoples Issues & Resources is dedicated to providing information, news, articles, videos, and resources for those concerned about, and for, indigenous peoples around the world. We recognize that our actions effect indigenous peoples in all parts of the world - the consequences of water diversion and hydroelectric energy projects, militarization, global and national events, consolidation of natural resource access, and the like are all having an unprecedented impact on the world's indigenous peoples. But we can do something.
It is our belief that cross-cultural communication, cooperation, and understanding - as well as easily accessible information and resources - is one of the keys to helping indigenous peoples maintain their language, culture, and identity. We hope that you also share this belief. Diversity is one of the strongest components to a healthy world. Together we can help and make a difference - from large to small.
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October 16 - 23, 2013: Five Key Indigenous Peoples Issues - United States, Colombia, Guatemala, Tanzania, Malaysia
United States: Final Denial Of Justice To The Onondaga Nation - United States Supreme Court Denies Certiorari
Today’s (October 15th) denial by the US Supreme Court of the Onondaga Nation’s Petition for Certiorari review of the dismissal of the Nation’s historic Land Rights Action is the final proof that there is no justice for Indigenous Nations in the US court system. This denial of justice sanctions New York’s un-denied and knowing illegal taking of the Onondaga Nation’s lands in the late 1700s and early 1800s; and it means that the US government continues to ignore and break the three treaties that were made with the Haudenosaunee Six Nations in 1784, 1789 and 1794.
This is just another example of the shameful history of broken treaties, land thefts, forced removal and cultural genocide that is the foundation of New York’s and the United States’ treatment of the Indigenous peoples and nations. Essentially, the courts have ruled that none of these horrible, historic harms matter under US law, because “it is not fair” to raise these problems at this time–they claim the Nation waited too long. This despite the fact that the courts were closed to the Nations until very recently and despite the fact that, from the very beginning, the Onondagas have constantly worked to redress these harms, in accordance with their Treaty right.
Today’s denial is but the last step on a shameful path of injustice and inequity which the Supreme Court has engaged in for almost 200 years, by adding its blessings to the horrendous treatment of Indigenous peoples and their lands and cultures. History will someday recognize how despicable this failure has been. Read more about the Supreme Court's denail and the Onondaga Nation here....
Colombia: Indigenous Peoples Face Attacks And Various Pressures During La Minga Social By Security Forces
Two days after initiating La Minga Social y Popular in the entire territory of Colombia, the indigenous peoples who are spread out across the territory will maintain, as of now, in an atmosphere of prolonged peaceful protest in order to achieve a true defense of Life, Autonomy, and Sovereignty.
In the presence of 17 departments, La Minga Indígena has successfully gotten the attention of the general public, national and international media, Human Rights groups and organizations at the social level, all of which united in the just cause of the indigenous peoples.
Paradoxically, while thousands of indigenous people raise enthusiasm and fervor for mobilization in various parts of the country, there are already several Urgent Warnings that have been generated as a result of the clashes and sustained confrontations with police in various regions of Colombia. Read more about the La Minga Social in Colombia and attacks on indigenous peoples here....
Guatemala: Guatemala’s Indigenous Peoples Demand Protection Of Their Rights
Human rights of indigenous peoples in Guatemala are under threat due to large scale extraction of natural resources and on-going encroachment on their lands. Their conflict with the state over these issues is now impacting their security, said Pablo Ceto, an indigenous community leader and a human rights activist from Ixil, Guatemala.
He shared these views during his visit to the World Council of Churches (WCC) offices on 15 October in Geneva, Switzerland. Ceto serves as director of the Fundamaya, an organization working for the rights of indigenous peoples in Guatemala.
Ceto met with staff of the WCC’s Commission of the Churches on International Affairs (CCIA). The CCIA will highlight the issues of people affected by transnational corporations and business enterprises in Guatemala at the Second United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights to be held in Geneva from 2 to 4 December. At the forum, the CCIA will facilitate participation of human rights activists and indigenous leaders from Guatemala. Read more about Guatemala's indigenous peoples and their demands for human rights here....
Tanzania: Conflicts Over Water Rise In Tanzania
Conflicts over water are increasing in the sprawling Pangani River Basin in northeastern Tanzania as farmers and herders jostle for dwindling water resources in the face of climate change.
Over the past decade, Maasai pastoralists from the northern areas of Moshi and Arusha have been streaming towards the basin with tens of thousands of their cattle in search of water and grazing pasture.
Hafsa Mtasiwa, the Pangani district commissioner, told IPS that the Maasais’ traditional land was strained by overuse of water resources and overgrazing. She said in the last three years 2,987 herders with 87,1321 cows and 98,341 goats moved into the basin’s low land, destroying arable land.
She said that although the government of this East African nation was trying to control the influx into the basin, a lack of policy coordination between relevant regional authorities made this difficult.
“This is a very complex issue whose solution requires a general consensus between the fighting groups. You don’t simply chase away cattle keepers. We must educate them on the need to respect the rights of the others,” she said. Read more about the Maasai pastoralists and struggles over water in Tanzania here....
Malaysia: Borneo Natives Step Up Anti-Dam Blockades Ahead Of Key UN Meeting On Malaysia
Two new blockades bar access to mega-dam construction site on the Baram river - 300 Penan continue Murum dam resettlement protest - Malaysia’s human rights record to be reviewed at the UN in Geneva tomorrow
Hundreds of indigenous people from the Baram district in the Malaysian part of Borneo are manning two road blockades erected today to prevent the construction of a planned mega-dam. According to community information received today, one blockade has been erected near Long Lama, a small town on the shores of the Baram river. A second blockade has been set up near the proposed dam site.
The native landowners demand the immediate halt to all planning and construction works at the Baram dam and its access road. The Baram dam is being planned by state-owned Malaysian energy provider Sarawak Energy (SEB).
The blockade sites have been chosen strategically to prevent Sarawak Energy from transporting machineries and construction equipment to the planned dam site. Read more about the Penan blockade of the Murum dam project area in Sarawak here....