WHO WE ARE - THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
We are using the term Indigenous Peoples with a meaning that is different from that given in many dictionaries, or how it is understood by many governments. Over the past decades, the concept of Indigenous Peoples has evolved beyond the original meaning found in dictionaries, and it is now well established in international law. That is why we are writing it with capital initial letters.
We have our own distinct language, culture, customary laws, and social and political institutions that are very different from those of the dominant ethno-linguistic groups in our countries. Selfidentification is crucial for us. When we call ourselves Indigenous Peoples we do not mean to claim to be the only people native to our countries. In most cases we are the “aboriginal” or “native” people of the lands we live in, and other people have come to settle there later. But we have also lived side-by-side with other peoples, native to their own lands, who however do not call themselves Indigenous Peoples. These are usually the dominant people, who have the economic and political power in our countries.
In some cases, we are forced to leave our lands because of violent conflicts, and to move to another country, like to Thailand, Vietnam or Laos. In these countries, we are clearly not the first inhabitants, the original or native people. But we strive to continue with our way of life and keep our traditions and practices alive and we still remain Indigenous Peoples.
Most of our people are small in numbers. Some have populations of just a few thousand or even just a few hundred. While we find an enormous diversity among Indigenous Peoples, common to us all are the strong cultural attachment to and the dependence of our livelihoods on land, forests or the sea and the natural resources therein. Our ways of life, spirituality and identity is very much attached to our territories, and displacement from our territories does not just imply the loss of livelihood, but of our identity and therefore is a threat to our very existence as peoples.
