The Indigenous World 2024: Sápmi 

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 25 March 2024.

Sápmi is the Sámi people’s own name for their traditional territory. The Sámi people are the Indigenous people of the northern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula and large parts of the Kola Peninsula and they live in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Russia. Traditionally, livelihoods such as

The Indigenous World 2024: Nepal

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 20 March 2024.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census of Nepal, the total population of Indigenous Peoples in Nepal is 35.08%, which is 29,164,578. However, Indigenous academics and movement leaders believe they are the majority. Fifty-nine Indigenous Peoples in Nepal are formally

The Indigenous World 2024: Cambodia

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 19 March 2024.

Cambodia is home to 22 different Indigenous Peoples speaking at least 19 Indigenous languages.^[i],[ii] With an estimated population of 170,000-400,000, they constitute approx. 1.1% of the

The Indigenous World 2023: India

Written by Morgane Jaouen on 29 March 2023.

In India, 705 ethnic groups are recognised as Scheduled Tribes. In central India, the Scheduled Tribes are usually referred to as Adivasis, which literally means Indigenous Peoples.^[1] With an estimated population of 104 million, they comprise 8.6 %

The Indigenous World 2023: Cambodia

Written by Morgane Jaouen on 29 March 2023.

Cambodia is home to 24 different Indigenous Peoples who speak at least 19 Indigenous languages.^[1],[2] With an estimated population of 170,000 to 400,000, they constitute approx.

The Indigenous World 2023: Peru

Written by Morgane Jaouen on 28 March 2023.

The Peruvian State recognizes 47 Indigenous languages spoken by 55 different peoples. According to the 2017 National Population Census, almost six million people (5,972,603) self-identify as belonging to an Indigenous or native people, representing just over a quarter of the total population.

The Indigenous World 2023: Guatemala

Written by Morgane Jaouen on 28 March 2023.

Guatemala has a population of 14.9 million inhabitants, of which 6.5 million (43.75%) belong to the Mayan peoples (Achi', Akateco, Awakateco, Chalchiteco, Ch'orti', Chuj, Itza', Ixil, Jacalteco, Kaqchikel, K'iche', Mam, Mopan, Poqomam, Poqomchi', Q'anjob'al, Q'eqchi', Sakapulteco, Sipakapense,

Indigenous defender remains detained in Algeria

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 18 January 2022.

IWGIA has learned that Indigenous Peoples human rights defender Kamira Nait Sid remains in pre-trial detention in Koléa prison near Algiers and has not yet been brought before a judge, which is against the law.

Indigenous woman human rights defender arrested and detained in Algeria

Written by Dwayne Mamo on 16 November 2021.

On 24 August 2021, Indigenous Peoples human rights defender Kamira Nait Sid was abducted in the town of Draa-Ben-Khedda in northern Algeria by unidentified men and detained in an unknown location for seven days. After several days of her family, friends and colleagues not being able to contact

Criminalization of Pathalgari Movement

Written by David Nathaniel Berger on 03 September 2021.

By Gladson Dungdung

Thousands of Adivasis involved in the “Pathalgari Movement” were criminalized for fighting for their collective rights to self-determination and protection of their lands, territories, and natural resources in Jharkhand State of

Indigenous governor murdered in Colombia: the limits of the Nasa People’s resistance

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 17 May 2021.

The young Indigenous governor of Cauca was murdered for her decision to expel legal and illegal armed actors from the territory and put an end to illicit crops. After her murder, the “Minga indígena hacia adentro” organized collective action in a demonstration of their autonomy and governance.

Philippines: false accusations, persecution and imprisonment of Indigenous women

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2021.

Rachel Mariano and Betty Belén, Indigenous women and human rights advocates share their incarceration stories due to trumped-up charges and evidence. The cause of their persecution is clear: they defend their ancestral lands. Because of their activities, their families and communities also

State racism, uprooting and memory loss: Indigenous women in Ecuador's prisons

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 05 May 2021.

Official statistics obscure the fact that the number of criminalized individuals and communities belonging to Indigenous Peoples far exceeds the number of prisoners who actually self-identify as Indigenous, because these figures exclude family members devoted to supporting them as well as

Indigenous women deprived of their liberty in Guatemala

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 23 April 2021.

Racism and patriarchy present profound challenges within the Guatemalan prison system. The penal system is a reflection of the discrimination experienced by Indigenous women all over: for being women, Indigenous and poor. In the face of this adversity, the Colectivo Artesana promotes public

Aboriginal people in Australia: the most imprisoned people on Earth

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 22 April 2021.

Aboriginal incarceration rates are much higher than the general Australian population. Moreover, Indigenous women represent 34% of the total number of inmates. As if this wasn’t enough, the legal and welfare systems are removing Indigenous children from their families and culture, serving as a

Racist and Patriarchal Justice in Argentina: the Reina Maraz case

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 14 April 2021.

The criminal procedure confronted by Reina Meraz, a Bolivian immigrant woman, exposes a double issue of the Argentinian judicial system: the need to train judicial officers in both gender perspective and interculturalism. Reina was subjected to a procedure that neglected her native tongue,

Premature deaths and prison violences in Mexico: imprisoned Indigenous women and structural racism

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 06 April 2021.

By delving into the lives and premature deaths of four members of the Hermanas en la Sombra Editorial Collective, the author shares her insights on her 12 years long-work with Indigenous women in prison: the racism that exists in prisons, the concealment of ethnic profiles during jail

Latin America: criminalization of Indigenous and environmental advocates increases

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 06 April 2021.

In the middle of a climate crisis, those who advocate for the environment are persecuted for exercising their right to social protest. As guardians of nature, Indigenous people are the most affected. On many occasions, economic groups use the State’s power to take away legitimacy and

Indigenous World 2020: Indonesia

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

Indonesia has a population of approximately 250 million. The government recognises 1,128 ethnic groups. The Ministry of Social Affairs identifies some Indigenous communities as: komunitas adat terpencil(geographically-isolated Indigenous communities). However, many more peoples

Indigenous World 2020: Myanmar

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

There is no accurate information about the number of Indigenous Peoples in Myanmar, partly due to a lack of understanding of the internationally recognised concept of Indigenous Peoples. The government claims that all citizens of Myanmar are “Indigenous” (taing-yin-tha), and on that

Indigenous World 2020: Chile

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

Since the 2017 census,¹ and despite constant increases in numbers since the 1990s, the Indigenous population has not shown any great changes. When considering their demographic for public policy and regulatory purposes, they are still given as 12.8%  of the total population, or

Indigenous World 2020: Guatemala

Written by IWGIA Assistant on 11 May 2020.

According to figures from the 2018 census, Guatemala has a population of 14.9 million inhabitants, 6.5 million (43.75%) of which self-identify as Indigenous, from the Maya, Garífuna and Xinca Indigenous Peoples, or Creole (Afrodescendants). The Maya can be further divided into 24 groups: the