International Day of Indigenous People

Published: 10th Aug, 2022

Context

August 9 is celebrated as International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.

2022 theme: “The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge”.

About

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples:

In 1982, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 9 August as International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
To commemorating the day of the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, held in Geneva in 1982.

Who are Indigenous people?

As defined by the United Nations, Indigenous peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment.
They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live.
Despite their cultural differences, indigenous peoples from around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples.

International Decades of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

The United Nations General Assembly established two International Decades of the World’s Indigenous Peoples:
- the first 1995 – 2004 (resolution 48/163)
- the second 2005 – 2014 (resolution 59/174)
with the goal of strengthening international cooperation for solving problems faced by indigenous peoples in important areas such as human rights and the environment.
The year 2022 marks the beginning of a new decade for the indigenous community: the celebration of the Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022 – 2032, following the celebration of 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages.

Indigenous People in India

Indigenous people in India are also called as Scheduled Tribes.
Scheduled Tribes are said to be the earliest inhabitants on the Indian sub-continent.
They are considered to be socially and economically least advanced.
Gonds, with a population of 4 million are found in the central Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, are one of the most dominant tribes in India.
Bhills of Western India, Santhals from the Eastern India, and the Andamanese from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are some of the dominant tribes in India.

Indigenous People of Banswara villages:

The region’s semi-arid and mixed-miscellaneous forests are home to a large population of tribals from the Bhil and Damor communities.
Flora: Trees like Anogeissus pendula (Dhok), Terminalia arjuna (Arjun), Albizia lebbeck (Saras), Dalbergia paniculata (Palash), etc. make up the forests in the region.
The primary source of living is agriculture. On small land holdings, the villagers grow maize, wheat and vegetables like okra, ridged gourd, bottle gourd, tomato, etc.
The women in the region play a key role in promoting a sustainable, integrated farming system.
Dietary Habits: The communities most commonly consume food grains like kodra (Paspalum scrobiculatum), bati (foxtail millet), kang, (barnyard millet), cheena (proso millet), hama, hamli and gujro (little millet), along with local vegetables.
- The minor millets are rich in fibre and iron and improves their immunity.

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