Posted
on August 9, 2016
It is a tricky thing to talk about “Indigenous Peoples” – because indigenous means “originating in a particular place.” When we talk about a plant or animal that is indigenous to a particular continent, region, or island, we mean that evidence shows that that particular species of plant or animal originated in that place.
For
example, a kind of bird with a strong beak that can crack open nut
shells might evolve on an island because there are nuts available in
abundance there, and there is no competing species eating those nuts.
Well,
when we are talking about people, we are all one species, and that
species evolved in (originated in) Africa.
So, what does it mean to talk about people
indigenous to Australia, or Alaska, or Brazil?
Are
those people some other species, with a completely separate evolution
from the rest of us?
Of
course not! Like I said, humans are humans – just one species –
Homo sapiens sapiens. Like I said, our species originated in
Africa and spread out all over the world:
Still, Indigenous Peoples means something!
I've been focusing on the
word indigenous...but what about the word peoples?
Now,
people is a tricky word. We usually use it as the plural form
of the word person: There is one person waiting to see the
next president of the United States...now there are five people
waiting...now there are lots of people waiting in a long, twisting
line. (This usage is made more complicated by the fact that we can also use
persons as the plural of person!)
But
people can be a singular noun: A people is a group or
population that shares particular cultural characteristics such as a
language, customs, and so forth. And of course, peoples
(plural) means various groups / tribes / cultures / populations.
And
it is this cultural group that has originated in a particular
continent, region, or island. We are not talking about a separate
biological species, but rather a separate social group.
 |
| These days, many Indigenous People choose to wear modern clothes that are commonly seen all over the world. Some at least at times choose to wear traditional clothing, or a mix of traditional and modern clothing. |
2016
International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
 |
| "Education" isn't just for kids (above). It's for adults, too (below). |
This
year's theme is Indigenous Peoples' right to education. People are
trying to make sure everyone has equal access to all levels of
education and vocational training. Along with people with
disabilities, refugees, and people in war-torn countries or other
unstable situations, Indigenous populations in many places in the
world often face gaps in educational access.
According to the U.N., some Indigenous populations have faced historical
abuses, discrimination, and marginalization in schools (and other
systems).
One
thing that would help is making sure that Indigenous Peoples have
access to the internet. I have loved Sugata Mitra's efforts to
help kids teach themselves by building a “school” in the “Cloud.”  |
| Sugata Mitra didn't just "think up" this philosophy - that kids can learn anything (or almost anything?) by themselves - he has shown it over and over again in some marvelous experiments! |
Also on this date:
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