LEARNING OBJECTIVES endorse and promote the collective rights of

the world’s indigenous peoples.

At the end of this Lesson students are
expected to: Established in 1968, the IWGIA is registered
as a non-profit organization in Denmark,
1. Recognize the need to have a well with the head office of its secretariat based
founded definition of the concept in Copenhagen. IWGIA’s work is primarily
“indigenous people”. funded by the Nordic Ministries of Foreign
2. Attain a well founded definition of Affairs and the European Union.
indigenous people and identity who
are IPs: The IWGIA outlined three primary rationales
3. Understand the historical for a clear and well defined
development of the concept conceptualization of indigenous people.
“indigenous people”.
4. Be familiar with the different First, is that self-identification is an
approaches and definitions of essential component of the IP’s sense of
“indigenous people”. identity, Thus, without a well-defined and
5. Determine the commonalities universality acceptable definition and
among the different approaches and criterion, IPs self-identification is indefinite
definitions of “indigenous people”. and doubtful.
6. Provide an example of indigenous
peoples groups in the Philippines Second, it will be easier for them to be
and discuss why this group should accepted as belonging to the IP
be included. classification, which is necessary to assert
their collective sights as a group and
★ Why is there a need for definition? advance the group’s particular needs.
Contrary to other ethnic minorities in a
Consequently, the United Nations country, IP’s are considered to suffer a
Declaration on the rights of higher level of marginalization and
Indigenous peoples strongly suggest discrimination.
that even with the absence of a
formal definition the rights of IPs Third, a clear definition of “indigenous
need to be upheld and protected. people” will provide IPs the opportunity to
be heard and seen by the local and
“The flexible definitional approaches to international government and enable them
indigenous people can enhance the human to assert their right to self determination.
rights protection of IP groups and
communities” The underlying issues in the naming of
indigenous peoples groups is that, most
The International Work Group for often, the name associated with them is
Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) is an also employed as a derogatory term to
independent and non-profit international address them. The existence of derogatory
human rights based membership remarks and other forms of discrimination
organization, whose control charter is
necessitates the need for a well defined 2. The Asian Development Bank
conceptualization of indigenous people. Framework

“This right is substantial in their collective ● They observed that there are two
effort to preserve, develop and transmit to primary similarities in the existing
future generations their ancestral claim, definitions of indigenous peoples or
which is home to their ethnic identity” - groups.
Benedict Kingsbury
First, is that they are descended from
DEFINING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE population groups that lived in a particular
geographic area before a modern state,
★ The word “indigenous” comes from territories and borders were defined.
the latin word “indigen” which means
native or original inhabitant- an idea Second, they maintain unique cultural
that became popular in the 17th identities or their social, economic, cultural
century. (Geographical location) and political institutions are different and
separate from the 14 mainstream or
Thus, the most common understanding of dominant societies.
the concept suggest that they are people
who are the original inhabitants of the land. Consequently, the ABD defines IPs as
“those with a social or cultural identity
1. According to the United Nations distinct from the dominant or mainstream
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, society hence, these characteristics put
the term “ indigenous” has been used them at a disadvantage in the process of
continuously whether as a form of collective development”.
names for categorization or as
representation to the legal issues in the 3. International Labor Organization
corresponding state that governs them. Framework
They are the most often mentioned as tribal
people or ethnic groups or communities. The Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Rights in
Practice: A Guide to ILO Convention,
Different names associated with IP’s Number 169 provides the criteria to
separate the concept “tribal people” from
● Such as Canada, where they are IPs.
referred to as first/people or nations
● In Australia, where they are ● The International Labor Organization
aboriginals is a United Nations agency whose
● In India where they are adivasi mandate is to advance social and
● In Nepal as janajati economic justice by setting
● Indonesia and Malaysia where they international labour standards, Ilo
are referred to as orang asli which Headquarters, Geneva Switzerland).
means tribal people or bumiputera
which means son of soil
 ★ What is the primary difference 4.1 The Martinez Cobo’s Report to the Un
between tribal people and Sub-Commission on the prevention of the
indigenous people? Discrimination of Minorities in 1986
- provides what can be considered
as the most working definition of
Tribal People Indigenous People
indigenous people.
Are regarded first On the other hand
as those with are characterized Who is Jose Martinez Coboo?
culture, social first by their
organization, historical continuity, In 1971, Jose R. Martinez Cobo of Ecuador
economic and their societies
was appointed Special Rapporteur for the
conditions and way thriving during
of life that are pre-conquest and study. He was charged with reccomending
different from other colonization. national and international measures for
segments of the eliminating such discrimination, and
national population. Is the territorial submitted his final report during the years
connection and 1981 to 1984.
Tribal people are their ancestors
those who have inhabiting the
their own traditions country or a region The Martinez Cobo Study also highlights
and customs and or of the country of the importance of historical continuity:
legal recognition. which they have a
claim. ● Having historical continuity with pre
invasion and pre colonial societies
They have distinct that developed in the territories.
social, economic,
cultural and political
institutions and ● That consider themselves distinct
retain either some from other sectors of those societies
or all of their own that are now prevailing on those
institutions. territories or part of of them

★ What is the primary difference ● That form at present non-dominant

between tribal people and sectors of society and are
indigenous people? determined to preserve, develop and
transmit to future generations their
● Is their historical continuity and ancestral territories and their ethnic
territorial connection. identity.

● This criterion has also been ● Whose preservation, development

exemplified in the working definition and transmission are the basis of
of the United Nations, Asian their continued existence as peoples
Development Bank and other who are in accordance with their
relevant international organizatios own cultural patterns, social
that cater to the rights of the IPs. institutions and legal system.

4. United Nations Framework

4.2. Chairperson- Rapporteur Madame Study can be characterized by the following
Erica-Irene Daes of United Nations Working factors:
Group on Indigenous Populations
designates IPs as those. ● Occupation of ancestral lands, or at
least of part of them.
Who is Erica- Irene Daes?
● Common ancestry with the original
Dr. Erica Irene Daes, an academic, diplomat occupants of these lands.
UN independent expert and strong human
rights defender, was undoubtedly one of the ● Culture in general, or in specific
main protagonists in the significant progress manifestations (such as religion,
achieved over the last four decades in living under a tribal system,
relation to recognizing indigenous people as membership of an indigenous
subjects of international law. community,dress, means of
livelihood, instant loans, lifestyle.
She was the Founding Chairperson and Etc).
Special Rapporteur, United Nations Working
Group on Indigenous Populations. She ● Language wether used as the only
played a major role in developing the draft language, as mother tongue, as the
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of habitual means of communication at
Indigenous Peoples. home or in the family, or as the
main, preferred,habitual,general or
She passed away the 12th February, 2017. normal language.

Designates IPs as those: ● Residence in certain parts of the

country or in certain regions of the
Descendants of groups that were in the world: and other relevant factors
territory of the country at the time when
other groups of different cultures or ethnic 4.4. Furthermore Article 1 Section of ILO
origins arrived there. Convention Number 169

Isolated or excluded from other segments of Self Identification is considered a

the country’s population and so have fundamental criterion for whether a person
preserve almost intact the customs and considers himself or herself as tribal or
traditions of their ancestors. indigenous.

Distant from or alien to the national, social In addition, Jeff Comtassel (2003) remarks
and cultural characteristics of the State that the question of
structure that claims them.
“Who are indigenous” can be best
4.3. According to the International Work answered by self identification
Group for Indigenous Affairs, the historical
continuity discussed by the Martinez Cobo “The indigenous people themselves can
best answer the question”
 1. JEFF Corntassel- provides a
5. The World Health Organization historical development of the
Framework conceptualization of the term
indigenous people in the
They acknowledge the fact that most IPs academy and its implications
health status is poorer than non-indigenous to the status and condition of
population groups in countries all over the these groups.
world.
2. Franke Wilmer- considered
In the absence of an official definition from as the first social scientist to
the United Nations, the WHO provides a examine the condition of IP
modern and inclusive understanding of IPs, in the world. As those who
which include those who: were politically autonomous
before colonization. Defines
● Identity themselves and are IPs first as those with
recognized and accepted by their tradition-based culture. As
community as indigenous. those who continued to
struggle for the preservation
● Demonstrate historical continuity of their cultural integrity,
with precolonial and pre settler economic, self reliance and
societies. political independence
against colonizers and the
● Have strong links to territories and modern state.
surrounding natural resources.
3. Gerald Alfred and Frake
● Have distinct social, economic, or Wilmer - teamed up in 1997
political systems to come up with three criteria
for a group to be considered
● Maintain distinct language , cultures as IP. This was intended to
and beliefs correct the ambiguities
provided in Wilmer’s 1993
● Form non-dominant groups of definition. These criteria
society and include the fact that they are
descended from the 17
● Resolve to maintain and reproduce original inhabitants of the
their ancestral environments and geographic areas they
systems as distinctive peoples and continue to occupy. They
communities. intend to live in confirmly with
their tradition based culture,
DEFINING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE which are evolving. Their
political destiny is subjected
Scholarity Definitions of Indigenous to policy from outside forces,
People which refers primarily to the
State they belong to. Thus,
 their political destiny and
communities that live mainly in
existence is beyond their had stable and conformity with
control. resilient political traditional social,
organizations prior economic, and
4. James Anaya- highlighted to conquest, cultural customs
the issue of ancestral roots colonization or that differ acutely
and the continued colonial establishment of a from the dominant
modern state. group without
domination of IPs homelands assertion of
by the modern state. cessation.
Indigenous Peoples are
those who are living
6. Fred Riggs
descendants of pre- invasion
inhabitants and whose lands
Challenges this claim and emphasizes that
are now dominated by
the IP definition should include four
others. They are indigenous
variation:
because their ancestral roots
are fixed in the territory they
● to consider is the cultural level of the
occupy and will continue to
community from primitive to more
occupy or in areas in close
complex societies. The more
proximity to the land in case
primitive are considered as IPs.
of dislocation. They can be
● to consider is the historical
considered as a distinct
sequence of who came first and who
community because their
followed. Those who considered to
ancestors way of life is
be IPs. To consider the political
carried over into the present
position, the IPs are those
generation.
margianlized communities, and the
dominant communities cannot be
5. Ted Gurr - provides the
considered as IPs.
distinction between
● to consider is the geographical area,
indigenous people and the
and the ancestral domain claim is
emerging ethno-nationalist
highly taken into account.
phenomenon in some
countries.
7. Benedict Kingsbury - makes
a case of the constructivist
Ethnic groups have been proclaiming that
approach in defining IPs. He
they belong to the category of indigenous
contends the impossibility of
people and their assertion of the right to
university applicable criteria
self- determination has escalated to efforts
in defining who are IPs and
to separate and establish their own state.
who are not. Promotes
maximum tractability in
categorizing IP groups while
Ethnonationalist Indigenous People maintaining four essential
criteria.
are those on the other hand,
 ● self-identification as a territory prior to colonization or the
distinct ehnic group establishment of a modern state.
● historical experience d. Ancestral Language Sustained-
of, or vulnerability to, the language identifiable to them
severe disruption, and their ancestors has perished
dislocation or and endured either as the only
exploitation. language, as mother tongue or
● long historical habutual means if communication at
connection with the home or in the family, or is
region or territory considered as the main, preffered,
● the aspiration to habitual and general language.
retain a distinct e. Ancestral Land Claim- continued
identity occupation and claim to a particular
portion of land that IPs believed to
What is the UN Declaration on the Rights of be home to their ancestors, thus
Indigenous Peoples?- (timeline of it) providing them with a right of
inheritance to this land.
SUMMARY f. Distinct Way of Life and
Non-Dominance- the sustained
the existing definition of IPs based on the beliefs, customs and traditions IPs
framework of the different international inherited from their ancestors makes
organizations that aim to advance their them consider themselves as distinct
rights and interests highlights the following from other sectors of society,
elements: particularly the dominant groups
prevailing in the territories or state
a. Self- Identification - an idividual they are placed under
belongs to an IP group once he or g. Aspirations for Self- Preservation
she is accepted as belonging to the and Self- Determination- as a
groups. non-dominant sector of society,
b. Ancestral Roots and Descent- which has continously been
they boast of a common ancestry influenced and determination to
and their lineage can be traced back preserve, develop, and transmit to
to the community or group of people future generations their ancestral
that thrive within a particular territory territories and their ethnic identity.
prior to colonization, or the
establishment of modern state.
c. Historical Continuity of Way of
Life- the community or the groups
distinct way of life(e.g. religion, tribal
system of governance,dress, means
of livelihood, lifestyle, etc.). This
tradition based culture is inherited
from a group of people in a particular