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what are indigenous people

Indigenous people are communities who are descended from the original inhabitants of a place and who have kept distinct cultures, languages, and ways of life that are different from the dominant society around them.

Quick definition

In many international contexts, Indigenous peoples are described as:

  • Descendants of the first peoples living in a territory before colonization or the formation of current states.
  • Non‑dominant groups in the countries where they live (they usually have less political and economic power than the majority population).
  • Communities that maintain their own social, economic, cultural, and political institutions, at least in part.
  • Peoples who have a strong, often spiritual, relationship with their traditional lands and natural resources.
  • Groups that usually self‑identify as Indigenous and are recognized as such by their own community.

A simple way to put it: Indigenous peoples are the original peoples of a region who still see themselves as distinct from later-arriving groups and who seek to preserve and develop their cultures, lands, and rights for future generations.

More detail (mini sections)

No single universal definition

There is no one globally agreed legal definition of “Indigenous peoples,” but some widely used descriptions come from:

  • The International Labour Organization Convention 169, which talks about peoples descended from populations that lived in a country or region at the time of conquest or colonization and who still maintain their own institutions.
  • United Nations descriptions that stress historical continuity with pre‑colonial societies, non‑dominant status, self‑identification, and determination to preserve and transmit their territories and cultures to future generations.

Because of this, being Indigenous is understood as a mix of history, culture, connection to land, and self‑identification, not just a biological or “racial” label.

Common characteristics

Many Indigenous peoples around the world share certain characteristics (though each group is unique):

  • Historical continuity with pre‑colonial or pre‑settler societies in a specific territory.
  • Distinct languages, cultural practices, and belief systems.
  • Distinct social and political structures (for example, their own forms of leadership or customary law).
  • Strong ties to land, water, and natural resources, often central to identity, spirituality, and livelihoods.
  • Experience of discrimination, marginalization, or dispossession under dominant state systems, including colonization, forced assimilation, or loss of land.

International organizations also emphasize that Indigenous peoples have collective rights as peoples, including land rights, cultural rights, and the right to self‑determination.

Terms and respectful language

The specific words used for Indigenous peoples can differ by country and context:

  • In some places, terms like “First Peoples,” “First Nations,” “Aboriginal peoples,” or local nation names are preferred.
  • Best practice is to use the specific nation or people’s name when you know it (for example, Sámi, Māori, Cree, Maya), rather than only the broad term “Indigenous.”
  • Style guides advise capitalizing “Indigenous Peoples” and the names of nations and communities, and avoiding outdated or offensive terms except when quoting historical or legal language where absolutely necessary.

Many Indigenous writers and advocates stress using language that recognizes resilience, agency, and rights, rather than only focusing on suffering or problems.

Different viewpoints and current context

People and institutions may emphasize different aspects when answering “what are Indigenous people?”:

  • Legal perspective: focuses on criteria like descent from pre‑colonial populations and maintenance of distinct institutions, as seen in ILO Convention 169 and state policies.
  • Human rights perspective: focuses on collective rights to land, culture, self‑determination, and protection from discrimination and violence.
  • Community perspective: stresses self‑identification, relationship to ancestors and land, and ongoing struggles and achievements in areas like language revitalization, governance, and cultural renewal.

Recent discussions (up to early 2026) often relate Indigenous peoples to topics like climate justice, protection of biodiversity, land defense, and implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

TL;DR: Indigenous peoples are the original peoples of a region who see themselves—and are seen by their communities—as distinct from later-arriving populations, maintain unique cultures, institutions, and ties to their lands, and often seek recognition and protection of their collective rights in states where they are usually non‑dominant groups.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.