An indigenous rights' group has sounded the alarm over a new threat to an uncontacted tribe in Paraguay.

Survival International, a London-based NGO that campaigns on behalf of indigenous people, has sent an emergency submission to the United Nations about destruction of forest occupied by the members of the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode tribe, the last of Paraguay’s uncontacted Indians. The Totobiegosode's land is being converted to cattle pasture by two Brazilian companies: Yaguarete Pora SA and R more...

The World Health Organization recently released information concerning the health of indigenous peoples. There are an estimated 370 million indigenous peoples living in more than 70 countries worldwide. They represent a rich diversity of cultures, religions, traditions, languages and histories; yet continue to be among the world's most marginalized population groups. The health status of indigenous peoples varies significantly from that of non-indigenous population groups in countries all over t more...

Although he is only 21, Camilo Yoge has seen his indigenous tribe lose its culture, territory and traditions. Yoge, a member of the Cofan tribe, has seen farmers, ranchers and oilmen invade his ancestral lands to plant illegal coca crops, raise cattle and search for oil. He has seen many young Cofan take to wearing Western-style clothes, listening to popular music and abandoning their native language for Spanish.

'We're losing out traditional dress, our environment,' lamented Yoge, who is st more...

In December 2003, the UN General Assembly requested that the Secretary-General conduct an in-depth study of violence against women. As preparations for the study continued throughout 2005, the International Indigenous Women's Forum (FIMI/IIWF) became increasingly concerned that the needs, rights, and perspectives of Indigenous women would not be adequately reflected in the study. In response, FIMI developed a companion report to the Secretary-General's Study, exploring the many manifestations of more...

A book review of the recently published Reinventing the Lacandon discusses how indigenous peoples representations have changed over time.

'Migration is a global phenomenon affecting ever greater numbers of people, many of whom often migrate very long distances. Current migratory processes are massive and global in nature, sometimes involving whole countries or regions. Indigenous migration forms a part of this process, sometimes the most important part if a majority of the migrants are indigenous.
The articles in this issue of Indigenous Affairs bear witness to various aspects of the phenomenon of indigenous migration, its featur more...

The idea of replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day was not a new one. It was first proclaimed by representatives of Native nations and participants at the United Nations-sponsored International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas, which took place in 1977 in Geneva, Switzerland. The declaration of this body was applauded and echoed by Native peoples around the globe.

This website provided by the government of the Choctaw in Oklahoma, a native American tribe in the United States. It provides information about the many programs and services of that government as well as the history of the tribe. It also provides a source of assistance to those of Choctaw ancestry in tracing their ancestors. It may be of interest as a model for other indigenous groups.

'Nowadays, the Roma community is one of the most disrespected and
disadvantaged groups in Europe. The Roma people face extreme discrimination from many majorities of the countries where they live, and Roma youth people really suffer from it. They become closed and distant to other communities. They avoid communication and contact with people from other ethnicities and communities. The main reasons for that is lack of education, a high rate of unemployment, poverty, low social and low economical more...

Located on the outskirts of Skopje Macedonia, about 10 miles from the Kosovo border, Shutka is perhaps the largest Rom (Gypsy) settlement in the world. This 'Little Paris,' as the inhabitants sometimes call it, was built up in the wake of the 1963 earthquake in Skopje. In 1996, Europe's first self-governing Romani administration, Suto Orizari, was created in Shutka. It includes a city hall, 40,000 inhabitants, a hospital, and schools with Romani language classes.

In 2000, just after the war i more...