Indigenous Peoples Harry Anthony Patrinos April 2009

Motivation Recent research for Latin America finds: –28 million indigenous peoples –higher poverty rates among indigenous –little to no improvement in poverty rates over time despite national gains –improvements in health and education gap remains, though in some cases narrowing (Hall & Patrinos 2006) No comparative work across other regions, though some data exist

Who are Indigenous Peoples? World Bank (OP 4.10): “Because of the varied and changing contexts in which Indigenous Peoples live and because there is no universally accepted definition of “Indigenous Peoples,” this policy does not define the term. Indigenous Peoples may be referred to in different countries by such terms as "indigenous ethnic minorities," "aboriginals," "hill tribes," "minority nationalities," "scheduled tribes," or "tribal groups”. “…the term “Indigenous Peoples” is used in a generic sense to refer to a distinct, vulnerable, social and cultural group possessing the following characteristics in varying degrees: (a) self-identification… (b) collective attachment to geographically distinct habitats… (c) customary cultural, economic, social, or political institutions … (d) an indigenous language,…

Who are Indigenous Peoples? UN Permanent Forum: self-identification National governments : debate often over who is & is not ‘indigenous’ Indigenous peoples: some feel strong identity as belonging to individual group (e.g. Quechua, Navaho, Adivasi); some disavow it as a means to pass into larger society, or as a means of survival (Maya in Guatemala)

“Becoming Indigenous” Joining together under a common identity as indigenous peoples is relatively new phenomena Born of common differences, with tremendous variety in individual & group characteristics Best seen as political identity & social movement Four R’s of the indigenous movement: demands for representation, recognition, resources, rights. (Levi & Maybury-Lewis 2009)

How Many Indigenous Globally? Some Rough Estimates: More than 5,000 different groups living in more than 70 countries (IFAD) Approximately million worldwide, 5% of world’s population (IWGIA)

How Many Indigenous? Identity Right to self-identify Measurement issue Common measures include: –Language (native tongue, ability to speak) –Self-identification –Geographic concentration (location, perception) Data availability

INDIGENOUS POPULATION ESTIMATES

Indigenous Population (millions) China91.0 South Asia60.0 Former Soviet Union28.0 Southeast Asia26.5 South America16.0 Africa14.2 Central America/Mexico12.7 Arabia5.0 USA/Canada2.7 Japan/Pacific Islands0.8 Australia/New Zealand0.6 Greenland/Scandinavia Source: Stephens et al in the Lancet, based on David Maybury-Lewis, Indigenous peoples, ethnic groups and the state, 2002

Indigenous Population (millions) China105.2 South Asia94.9 Former Soviet Union0.4 Southeast Asia29.8 South America19.5 Africa22.0 Central America/Mexico19.1 Arabia15.4 USA/Canada3.3 Japan/Pacific Islands0.0 Australia/New Zealand0.5 Greenland/Scandinavia Source: Compiled from IWGIA (2008)— International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, The Indigenous World 2008

Indigenous Population (millions) China106.4 South Asia94.9 Former Soviet Union0.4 Southeast Asia29.8 South America10.9 Africa22.0 Central America/Mexico11.8 Arabia15.4 USA/Canada3.3 Japan/Pacific Islands0.8 Australia/New Zealand0.6 Greenland/Scandinavia0.1 Total296.4 Sources: Our estimates (China, India, Latin America) supplemented by Stephens & IWGIA

Indigenous Peoples of Latin America, circa 1491 Estimates of population vary from low of 8 million to high of 113 million 1976 (geographer William Denevan) "consensus count" of 54 million Death toll of 80% at end of 16th century (recovered only in 19th century) Maya population estimated at 6 million, which is same as at end of 15th century Indigenous far more widespread than previously believed, much more advanced

Indigenous population of Latin America (% indigenous)

Indigenous population of Latin America (millions)

Indigenous Poverty as Proportion of Total

Income Poverty Results Latin America

Income Poverty Trends, Latin America

Improve Data Collection Efforts Include identification questions for cultural diversity –But more than a single question Standardize questions Add special survey modules Also do separate surveys –And supplements to national census Regular identification questions in household & labor force surveys

Harry Anthony Patrinos