Threats Posed to Indigenous People

Indigenous people are descendants of the original inhabitants of a region prior to colonization. They can be recognized by a unique language and culture and a kind of ancestral relationship to their homeland. They are usually the linguistic and racial minority of the area where they live in.

Indigenous people live in every climate from the Arctic Circle to tropical rainforests. Globally about 250-350 million people are considered to be indigenous; the number depends on the interpretation of the term. About 50 million of them live in rainforests where their culture is usually less affected by the cultural encroachment. There is a big cultural diversity; around the world you can find thousands of different cultures among indigenous people.

Since the 1500s and the beginning of colonization there have been many threats to indigenous people, their environment and culture. Today the threats may not be as obvious as in the days of colonization when the conquerors were consciously trying to kill out cultures and religions in the colonized area. Today the biggest threats come from multinational companies exploiting natural resources but also from tourism and the spreading of the western lifestyle.

The biggest effect of the forest destruction is on the tribes of the rainforest who live a traditional life hunting, fishing and gathering food in the forest. The disappearance of those cultures can also mean the disappearance of their knowledge of the medicinal and other important rainforest plants - that knowledge could help cure diseases like cancer and aids.

A well-known example of indigenous groups fighting for their rights against a multinational company is the Ogonis in Nigeria. They live in the delta region where Shell oil has been operating since the 1950’s together with the Nigerian government. The oil production has benefited foreign nations and Nigerian government elites but not the native populations. The Ogonis’ areas have been damaged by oil spills, dumping of waste products, pipeline leaks, etc.

There has been a campaign of protests since 1990 to stop Shell’s operations in the area, and many Ogonis have been harassed, jailed and even killed by the government. The most famous of the protestors was Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was the leader of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni people. His story has made many western people think about the Shell operations. Maybe boycotts here can have an effect on the operations in Nigeria one day.

Everybody can do something from everyday choices to affecting big political decisions. You can think about things like what kind of wood your furniture is made of or which multinational companies you support while doing your everyday shopping. You can also write to newspapers or to decision makers either in your own country or anywhere else. Hopefully changes will happen quickly enough, so we don’t lose our big cultural diversity. In the end that is what makes the world so colourful.

11.5.2004 Kirsi Kujala