Introduction:
The International observance of a day on 9 August, honoring the indigenous peoples focuses world’s attention on a forgotten people in human history, who number more than 370 million and live in around 70 countries. The theme of this year is ‘Honoring Indigenous Youth, Languages and Sacred Sites’. This occasion is an opportunity to acknowledge and confront the critical challenges the indigenous people facing today for keeping themselves alive. The Day challenges the world to recognize and celebrate the richness of indigenous cultures and their contributions to the human family.

Please note the special reference to India’s situation in the last part.

The beginning:
The observance of the Day began during the 1st decade (10th Dec.1994-2004) of the World’s indigenous peoples. 9th of August marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. The goal of the Decade was to strengthen international cooperation for solving problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, environment, development, education and health. In 2004, the UN Assembly declared a second International Decade with specific objectives of strengthening international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as culture, education, health, human rights, environment, social and economic development.

Who are the World’s indigenous peoples?
There is no universally accepted definition. Indigenous peoples are generally understood as the original inhabitants of a country. They are also called first peoples, tribal peoples, Adivasis, aboriginal peoples, and autochthons. They live on all five continents, from the Arctic to the Amazon, from the Sahara to Australia. They include the Indians of the Americas, the Inuit of the circumpolar region, the Saami of Northern Europe and the Maori of Aoteoroa (New Zealand).

Where are they?
Majority of indigenous peoples - more than 150 million – have their domicile in Asia, in countries such as Bangladesh, Burma, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Around 30 million indigenous people live in Latin America. In Bolivia, Guatemala and Peru, indigenous peoples make up over half the population.

How do they live?
Indigenous peoples have diverse cultures, religions and forms of social and economic organization. They are united in a desire to maintain their unique identities and to adapt and survive as distinct peoples. Despite their diversity, indigenous peoples face similar problems. They are among the most disadvantaged groups on Earth. They are subjected to slavery and forced labor and face discrimination, poverty, poor health, unemployment and high rates of imprisonment. Their land and resources are threatened by deforestation, mining, dam and irrigation projects, road construction, toxic waste dumping, nuclear testing and other aspects of development; besides their persons being subjected to massive violations of human rights.

The Indian scene:
The population of tribes in India as per 2001 census is 8.43 crores, comprising 8.2% of the Indian population. The states of Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Jharkhand and Gujarat account for more than half of the Scheduled tribes population in India. The main concentration of tribes is in Central India and in the North-Eastern states. Kerala is the 12th State, when listed in the order of the tribal population. The States and Union Territories of Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Pondicherry and Chadigarh do not have tribal presence. However, in some North-east Indian states their percentage is higher, though their total number is much smaller.

The Day’s relevance for India:
The theme of this year’s Indigenous Day celebration has much relevance to India, when one takes into account the present conditions of their existence. The number of illiterates among the Adivasis here is much higher than any other groups compared. Even though the right to education is now included in fundamental rights, its access and affordability is extremely low in the case of Adivasis and the their youths are denied of opportunities for learning, and their dignity and honor is systematically ignored. The Constitution of India and the draft ‘National Tribal Policy’ recognizes the importance of primary education to indigenous people in their own mother tongue; besides the mandates of International instruments on Indigenous peoples. Their territories and sacred sites are constantly encroached upon, with impunity.
Though an irony, for the millions of Adivasis in India this day will just pass over as any other routine day in their miserable lives, without being conscious that the world is remembering them today. The best observance of the Day in the Indian context would be to make the existence of this day known to them by ways and means accessible to them.

Fr. Thomas Joseph Therakam (India)