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. They are the earliest known inhabitants of an area and their descendants, especially one that has been colonized by a now-dominant group of settlers. Indigenous peoples have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are clearly different from those of other segments of the national populations. They have a special relationship with the land on which they have lived for generations, sometimes for tens of thousands of years, and possess crucial knowledge about how to manage natural resources sustainably.
Indigenous peoples often have much in common with other neglected segments of societies, such as lack of political representation and participation, economic marginalization and poverty, lack of access to social services, and discrimination. They often lack formal recognition over their lands, territories, and natural resources, are often last to receive public investments in basic services and infrastructure, and face multiple barriers to participate fully in the formal economy, enjoy access to justice, and participate in political processes and decision making.
Indigenous peoples are the holders of unique languages, knowledge systems, and beliefs and possess invaluable knowledge of practices for the sustainable management of natural resources. They have retained traditions or other aspects of an early culture that is associated with the first inhabitants of a given region. Indigenous peoples often subscribe to their customary leaders and organizations for representation that are distinct or separate from those of the mainstream society or culture.
There are an estimated 476 million Indigenous Peoples worldwide, representing about 5% of the worlds population. Although they make up just 6 percent of the global population, they account for about 19 percent of the extreme poor. Indigenous Peoples’ life expectancy is up to 20 years lower than the life expectancy of non-Indigenous Peoples worldwide.
