Special legal and human rights that protect the survival, land, culture, and self-determination of native groups worldwide. The right of native groups to freely govern their own internal affairs, political systems, and economic development without forced control.Collective ownership and protection over ancestral territories, sacred sites, and natural resources against corporate or state seizure.The freedom to practice traditions, teach native languages, and protect spiritual beliefs without facing forced assimilation.There are more than 5,000 different Indigenous Peoples around the world comprising 476 million people – around 6.2% of the global population. They are spread across more than 90 countries in every region and speak more than 4,000 languages.
Modern international indigenous rights started in 1982 with the creation of a UN working group, leading to key milestones like the 1989 labor convention and the 2007 UN declaration.The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, local voting rights victories, and the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968. Indigenous tribes governed themselves for thousands of years before the United States was formed.
Indigenous rights matter most to Indigenous peoples themselves, their local communities, and the global public. These rights protect their daily survival, physical safety, and ancestral lands.Indigenous rights matter the most to Indigenous Peoples themselves, along with their communities and future generations. These rights protect their daily survival, sacred ancestral lands, unique cultural traditions, and right to self-government.
The fight for Indigenous rights in the United States took over 150 years from the founding of the country, highlighted by key milestones like the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924 and the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act in 1975.