There are about 300 million indigenous peoples in the world. People of such small and big nationalities have been living in Bangladesh for a long time. Their contribution during the war of liberation was glorious. Although they are a minority, their culture is our precious resource.
What is aboriginal?
: Indigenous people are the small and big backward ethnic groups with primitive or ancient culture. They do not fully embrace modern civilization but form small societies or groups in their own right and live in or near the forest. Chakma, Khasia, Thanchangya, Garo, Marma, Santal, Tripura, Orano, Munda, Hajong, Koch, Mro, Chak, Rakhine, Manipuri and many other ethnic groups live in Bangladesh. Indigenous peoples who live in deep forests tend to hold on to their own culture. In this sense, the other name of the indigenous people is 'primitive inhabitants' of the world. These indigenous peoples are the forerunners of the advanced peoples of the present world. They are better known as 'tribes' in our Bangladesh.
Indigenous peoples of different countries of the world: 300 million indigenous people are living in about 70 countries of the world. Indians, Inuit or Eskimos from the Americas and Canada, Aborigines from Australia, Sami from Northern Europe, and M মাori from New Zealand are among them. In countries like Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, etc., half of the total population is indigenous. Indigenous people make up 70 percent of Bolivia's population. About 60 million indigenous people live in the Philippines. There are 5 crore tribals in India and 1 crore in Myanmar. Privately, about 2 million people of 45 nationalities live in Bangladesh. According to the 1991 census, there are 12 lakh 5 thousand 97 indigenous people of 28 nationalities.
Classification of Indigenous Peoples of Bangladesh: Indigenous people of Bangladesh can be divided into two groups on the basis of region: 1. Chittagong Hill Tracts districts and Barisal-Patuakhali region; 2. The rest of Bangladesh.
There are Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Murang, Mro, Kuki, Lusai, Khasi, Banyogi, Thanchangya, Pankho etc. tribals in different districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts, Barisal and Patuakhali. In the rest of the region there are tribals like Santal, Manipuri, Garo, Khasia, Hajong, Munda, Orano etc.
Indigenous Peoples Life and Culture: Indigenous peoples are group conscious. They deal with any problems in groups. Their social structure is different. According to the population, each society is divided into small groups. Every party is trying to maintain security.
Indigenous society is governed by its own system of government. Their education system is also their own. However, they also adopt the language and education of the larger society. Some of these societies are maternal. Animal husbandry and agriculture are the main livelihoods of the tribals. Magic, materialism, occupy a large part of their social life. Most of them are Buddhists and Hindus. Some have also converted to Christianity. The responsibility of the government system is vested in persons with special qualities or elders. It is done under the direction of the person responsible for maintaining the discipline of the society. Indigenous songs, stories, legends, varied dances, word of mouth, traditional cultural resources have diversified and enriched our culture. Among the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh, Chakmas, Marmas, Rakhines and Manipuris are relatively advanced in education.
now the most affected people in the world. Indigenous culture is on the verge of extinction in the wake of the spread, development and modernization of colonialism. Indigenous people live in poverty in almost every country. Indigenous peoples who have been integrated into urban society are being discriminated against in language, education and employment. On the other hand, the culture of those who have remained in the homeland is facing a crisis somewhere. The average life expectancy of indigenous peoples in northern Russia is relatively low. Indigenous people in Australia have a five-fold higher unemployment rate. Indigenous people of India live below the poverty line.
The main problems of the tribals are:
1. They are being displaced by the acquisition of land and resources;
2. Deprived of basic human rights:
3. The spread of internal colonization is happening;
4. There is disenfranchisement in language, culture, health, education, etc .;
5. They are socially and economically discriminated against;
6.Constitutional non-recognition.
Recognition of indigenous peoples, their right to life, right to land and forest, right to property are long standing demands of indigenous people.
United Nations and Indigenous Peoples: The United Nations has been celebrating International Indigenous Day on 9 August every year since 1995. The United Nations has declared 1995-2004 as the International Decade for Indigenous Peoples, pledging to change the situation of indigenous peoples. The goal of this decade is to end all kinds of socio-economic and political problems of the indigenous people and bring them on par with the mainstream population. From 14 to 25 June 1993, at the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, leading figures from the indigenous community presented their hopes, aspirations, and the history of their deprivation to the world. It has opened a new horizon. There is a UN Human Rights Complaints Center for Indigenous Peoples to Complain of Human Rights Violations. There is a working group to oversee the rights of indigenous peoples. The UN Working Group is working to review government policy on the human rights of indigenous peoples, to act on the recommendations of indigenous peoples to the UN Human Rights Commission, and to build international public opinion in favor of indigenous peoples. In September 1999, the UN Economic and Social Council established a permanent forum for indigenous peoples. The goal of this forum is to implement various programs adopted for the development of tribals.
Indigenous people are the first children of this soil. Indigenous identity, language and culture are one of our valuable resources. We are their successors. So the heritage, culture, culture of this ethnic group is our pride and pride. Therefore, in order to give all kinds of rights to the tribals, the government of the country as well as all the conscious citizens have to play a bigger role.