Statement of the Problem

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The well-being and preservation of marginalized[1] groups is a major concern for governments in the 21st century because the civil and political participation of diverse religious, ethnic, and linguistic groups is a key component of international stability. One particular group that requires special attention is indigenous peoples[2]. Indigenous peoples have faced serious challenges while struggling for political recognition throughout history.

Although they represent only 5% of the global population, indigenous peoples make up 15% of the world's poor[i]. With extreme poverty comes further socially crippling consequences, including limited or non-existent access to education, health care, and participation or recognition in national government. These conditions can create identity politics that may cause unhappiness for indigenous or even lead to violent riot.[ii]

Background to THE ISSUE[iii]

Over the past century, the rapid and extensive spread of colonial power throughout the world has had a profound impact on many nations and their indigenous peoples. Colonists often forcibly controlled indigenous peoples and took advantage of them in many ways. Indigenous peoples were enslaved and made to believe they were racially inferior or “barbaric[3]” compared to colonists. They also lost control of their land and all the natural resources that came from it. This made it difficult to maintain a traditional way of life. Colonization resulted in conflict, displacement[4] and the devastation of indigenous populations. Today, 370 million indigenous peoples exist within 90 states. For some nations, such as Bolivia and Guatemala, a large proportion of the national population is composed of indigenous peoples. Some indigenous communities that have been granted special rights by their governments now have separate land to maintain their way of life[iv], like the Orang Asli people of Malaysia who were granted the right to own their native lands in 2008.[v]

The United Nations does not have a concrete definition of indigenous people. Rather, the UN uses a working definition that includes several characteristics that define who these people are.[vi] These characteristics include but are not limited to;

- Self-identifying as an indigenous person at the individual level, and accepted by the community as a member;

- Possessing a strong link to territories and surrounding natural resources;

- Possessing a historical continuity with pre-colonial and pre-settler societies;

- Having distinct social, economic, or political systems

- Being a person from a non dominant group of society[vii]

Although the United Nations' definition of indigenous people is very detailed, it prevents indigenous people from gaining recognition or aid if they do not match the definition properly. Thus, when the United Nations passes resolutions affecting indigenous peoples, those who do not fit the United Nations' definition are not able to receive the benefits from changes or improvements.[viii]

Discussion of the issue

Endangerment of culture

The residential land of indigenous peoples is the foundation of their existence. It defines their lives, cultures, and identity. Traditional knowledge, skills, and handicrafts that are passed down from their one generation to the next are based on a relationship with the environment. Spiritually, indigenous people consider their lands sacred[5]. It serves as a connection to their ancestors through burial grounds and a site to hold rituals. Indigenous peoples also depend on their land to grow and sell crops for a living.[ix]

Regardless of how inseparable indigenous people are to their lands, they can be forcibly removed for a number of reasons. These lands are often rich in natural resources that are profitable to many industries. Governments have made mining laws more lax over the years, giving mining companies easier access to lands where indigenous peoples reside. Large companies are often not obligated to consider the welfare of indigenous peoples. Some governments have laws to protect indigenous peoples and their lands, but these are usually ineffective. This leaves the land of indigenous peoples vulnerable to mining companies and other businesses, such as pharmaceutical and logging companies.

Global changes by the World Trade Organization, or WTO, are also worsening the situation. The WTO supervises international trade. It has 153 member states and is almost as large as the United Nations. In 1995, the WTO ratified the Agreement on Agriculture (AOA) which allows government subsidized[6] agricultural goods to be imported from rich nations to poorer nations. When these subsidized goods reach the market, they are cheaper than the prices that indigenous peoples set for their produce. Consumers buy the cheaper subsidized goods, leaving indigenous peoples without income. Without money, indigenous peoples lose their lands – their only means of livelihood.[x]

The disappearance of indigenous languages is another major issue in the endangerment of indigenous cultures. The number of oral languages that currently exist on the world ranges from 6000 to 7000.[xi] However, 97% of the global population speaks only four percent of these languages, while three percent speaks the remaining 96%. Many languages are endangered and could become extinct within 100 years if nothing is done to prevent this. When indigenous peoples lose their lands and identities, their languages are also endangered. Language is crucial for maintaining indigenous culture. Most indigenous languages are only oral; they do not have a written form. Once the language ceases to be passed down, it is gone forever. Without languages, insight into traditional knowledge, cultural diversity, and identity is lost. Indigenous peoples also lose their relationship with the environment and their collectively-owned knowledge, such as the skill to recognize native plants with healing abilities.[xii]

People often argue that the disappearance of languages is a natural phenomenon. However, it is important to remember that many indigenous populations were forced to learn the languages of their colonizers and forbidden from practicing their own cultures and languages.

Countries themselves can benefit from preserving languages. Studies show that children learn better in their own languages, which allows education systems to improve their curriculums. In these studies, children in bilingual education programs demonstrated greater psychological development and interaction with their social environments. They were happy, expressive, and possessed high self esteem. Also, educational gender gaps were lessened when children were taught in their indigenous languages.[xiii]

The State of indigenous People in Urban Areas

When indigenous peoples lose their lands due to lack of money, they are forced to settle in urban areas where they face a new set of challenges. It is difficult for them to find employment due to lack of education or skills needed in urban settings. To survive, they resort to day laboring, informal mining, or even begging. With such little money, they become subject to environmental poverty by living in informal settlements that are prone to natural disasters like flooding or erosion. Clean running water and electricity are also rare in these living environments. As indigenous peoples disperse farther within urban areas to find means of survival, they lose their communal identities.[xiv]

Overall, indigenous peoples consistently live under worse conditions and have lower qualities of life than non-indigenous citizens. They are denied numerous services needed for adequate standards of living, including education and social services. The gravity of this situation is evident when health-related statistics for indigenous peoples in urban settings are compared to those from non-indigenous communities. For indigenous communities displaced to urban areas, child mortality is 70% higher and the rate of malnutrition is double. Indigenous peoples are at a higher risk of smoking and drug and alcohol abuse, with shorter life spans on average. Higher rates of suicide also plague their communities.[xv] Without government-sponsored support, indigenous peoples' struggle to improve their standards of living continues.

PAST INTERNATIONal ACTIONS

Indigenous peoples have been displaced from their lands, discriminated against, and face possible extinction. As a result, the international community has considered it necessary to adopt special legal measures to protect the rights of indigenous peoples and ensure the inclusion and participation of their rights in political processes.[xvi]

The Working Group on Indigenous Populations

The Working Group on Indigenous Populations was established in 1982 through a resolution by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Its two main goals were to review developments that protect indigenous peoples' human rights and to focus on changes in international indigenous rights. The Working Group became defunct after it drafted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and succeeded in its adoption by the General Assembly.[xvii]

UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the General Assembly on September 13, 2007 by a majority of 143 states, with four opposing votes and eleven abstentions. The Declaration establishes minimum standards for dignity, well-being, and rights of the world’s 370 million indigenous peoples. This document calls for support to end discrimination against indigenous peoples and encourage their participation in making decisions about their livelihoods. Many of these goals are promoted through cooperation between indigenous peoples and states.[xviii]

International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People

The International Decade of the World's Indigenous People lasted from 1995 to 2004. The theme of the International Decade was “Indigenous People: Partnership in Action”. The International Decade set the goal of strengthening international cooperation to help indigenous peoples fight the challenges they face. During this time, the Voluntary Fund for the Decade was organized to help support programs to achieve the International Decade's goal.[xix]

Second Decade of the World’s Indigenous People

The United Nations General Assembly inaugurated the Second Decade of the World's Indigenous People on December 22nd, 2004. The Second Decade has five objectives:

1. End discrimination and include indigenous peoples in helping create laws, policies, resources, programs and projects that would be beneficial to the indigenous population

2. Include indigenous peoples' participation in making decisions that affect their lifestyles, traditional lands and any other aspects of their lives

3. Redefine policies that respect cultural and linguistic diversity of indigenous peoples

4. Create policies and programs with concrete goals to develop indigenous peoples, with a focus on women, children, and youth

5. Develop ways to monitor and ensure that laws, policies, and programs are being implemented properly to protect and improves the lives of indigenous peoples.[xx]

RECOMMENDATION FOR FORMULATING A RESOLUTION

One way to improve the economic and social status of indigenous peoples is by moving away from a strict definition of indigenous people. Rather, a system of identification would be more practical in helping indigenous peoples gain recognition. This would also ensure that legislation passed in favor of indigenous rights would be accessible to indigenous groups, instead of only those that match the United Nations' definition of indigenous peoples.

The global community must have greater awareness of the plight of indigenous peoples. In order to achieve this, more dialogue is needed. Through communication, non-indigenous peoples will be able to understand the specific needs of indigenous communities and be able to implement effective policies. Another way to heighten awareness of the problems indigenous peoples face would be through engaging in cultural exchanges. This would create a deeper appreciation and an outside incentive to preserve the livelihood of indigenous peoples.

Thirdly, governments must undertake greater measures in protecting indigenous cultures. They must enforce laws that allow indigenous peoples to remain in their homelands and protect them from companies that want to develop their lands for economic gain. Incorporating indigenous cultures into mainstream cultures would aid in protecting indigenous peoples. One solution is to integrate indigenous languages into schools and the public sphere. Australia is one country that has recently increased its funding for indigenous language programs. Indigenous perspectives are being added to the Australian National Curriculum to give all students an opportunity to respect, learn, and acknowledge Australia's indigenous cultures. The country has also granted more than 38.6 million Australian dollars for interpreters and translators of indigenous cultures to keep indigenous languages alive.[xxi]

CREDITS

[1] Marginalized: Considered outcasts or on the fringes of society; not as important as other (majority) groups in the society

[2] Indigenous People: the group of people who originally lived in an area

[3] Barbaric: uncivilized or primitive

[4] Displacement: to leave involuntarily or be forcibly removed from your home

[5] Sacred: considered holy by a certain society

[6] Subsidize: financially supported by the government

[i]
“State of the World's Indigenous Peoples.” UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. United Nations, 2009. Web. 4 Oct. 2010.

[ii]

Woolridge, Mike. “UN warns of ethnic diversity timebomb.” BBC News. British Broadcasting Company. 15 Jul. 2004. Web. 4 Oct. 2010

[iii] Image Citation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Huli_wigman.jpg

[iv]

“Indigenous Peoples.” Amnesty International. n.p, n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2010.

[v]

“Malaysia's indigenous people to get land rights for first time.” Nov. 19, 2008. http://news.mongabay.com/2008/1119-malaysia.html

[vi] “Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Voices.” United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. UNPFII, n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2010.

[vii] “State of the World's Indigenous Peoples.” UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. United Nations, 2009. Web. 4 Oct. 2010.

[viii]

Image Citation. http://www.sarweb.org/kantner/images/chiefs.jpg

[ix]