Understanding the term “indigenous”

Understanding the term “indigenous”

The term indigenous is derived from the Latin etymology meaning "native" or "born within". It is defined as a body of persons that are united by a common culture, tradition, or sense of kinship, which typically has common language, institutions, and beliefs, and often constitute a politically organized group".

Considering the diversity of indigenous peoples, an official definition of “indigenous” has not been adopted by any United Nation system body. Instead the system has developed a modern understanding of this term based on the following:

·         Self- identification as indigenous peoples at the individual level and accepted by the community as their member.

·         Historical continuity with pre-colonial and/or pre-settler societies

·         Strong link to territories and surrounding natural resources

·         Distinct social, economic or political systems

·         Distinct language, culture and beliefs

·         Form non-dominant groups of society

·         Resolve to maintain and reproduce their ancestral environments and systems as distinctive peoples and communities.