Who is Indigenous?
Those ethnic groups that were indigenous to a territory prior to being incorporated into a national state, and who are politically and culturally separate from the majority ethnic identity of the state that they are a part of more than 100 tribes around the world choose to reject contact with outsiders.
Native American and Alaska Natives
Numbering 3.08 million of a total US population of 304 million. Though now only accounting for 1.01 percent of the nation's entire population, Native Americans lost more than 97.7 percent of land over the course of the American conquest. The signing of treaties, relocation, and epidemics accelerated the decrease of Native American population as well as land. (US Census)This land grab continues. As recently as early this year, Oak Flat, a centuries-old sacred site for Native Americans in Arizona, was handed over to an international mining conglomerate by Congress earlier this year. Among all American Indians and Alaska Natives, about one-in-five (22%) live on reservations or tribal lands. (PEW)
Indigenous peoples have higher rates of disease, higher death rates, and a lack of medical coverage. (The Office of Minority Health)
At the present time there are 566 federally-recognized tribes in the USA.
104 Million Aboriginals in India
India probably has the largest concentration of indigenous people. There are 104 million aboriginal people in India called the Adivasi.Indigenous Peoples at the Parliament
The 2009 Melbourne Parliament organized the first global interfaith assembly of indigenous peoples. Many of the global indigenous leaders said it was the first time for their coming together. At the 2015 Parliament, an array of Indigenous Peoples will open and close the Parliament with a traditional welcoming procession and prayers.MORE:
Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions
70 East Lake Street, Suite 205
Chicago, IL 60601 USA
Tel: 312-629-2990
Fax: 312-629-2991
Email: 2015@parliamentofreligions.org
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