INDIGENOUS PEOPLES FROM AROUND THE WORLD SHARE STORIES OF THEIR CULTURE
Indigenous Peoples & Globalization
Indigenous peoples is a term used to describe any group whose heritage is native to a specific region. Specifically, indigenous means people who lived in a particular location before colonists or settlers arrived, and who have a common traditional culture and language.
According to UNESCO, there are at least 370-500 million indigenous peoples living in all regions of the world who own, occupy or use some 22% of global land area. Indigenous peoples represent the greater part of the world’s cultural diversity, and have created and speak the major share of the world’s almost 7,000 languages.
Also known as First peoples, First nations, Aboriginal peoples, and Native peoples, many such communities worldwide have had their culture and language decimated, along with losing their ancestral land, through colonization, globalization and appropriation.
Our interviews and stories below present the personal experiences of indigenous people from Colombia, Guatemala, India, Mexico, and the U.S., as well as two educators who have longstanding ties with specific indigenous communities. These articles are compelling testimonies to the powerful meaning of culture to indigenous people and the vital importance of its preservation.
DOCUMENTING INDIAN ART IS CALLING FOR BENOY K. BEHL
New Delhi Photographer and Film Maker Benoy Behl shares his adventures across India in search of history and meaning behind art in India.
ESTONIA’S LAND OF THE SETOS
Explore distinctive traditions of Estonia’s Land of Setos, an ethnic community on Russian border known for leelo singing, colorful textiles and King Peko.
ALEBRIJES WORKSHOP IS AT THE HEART OF OAXACA VALLEY COMMUNITY
Mexican folk artists Jacobo and Maria Angeles of Oaxaca are renowned for their distinctive alebrijes wood carvings. Get the back story here.
HOW SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE BANGLANATAK.COM CHANGES LIVES
Meet Amitava Bhattacharya, founder of Banglanatak.com, which empowers sustainable economies of rural communities via traditional arts and crafts.
GOND ART AND CULTURE SHARED BY PAINTER VIJAY SHYAM
Gond art of India is an ancient tribal art form that uses bright colors to bring myths, emotions and community values alive!
ORGANIC FABRICS MADE FROM TEMPLE FLOWERS IN INDIA
Learn how colors of India are created by Mumbai entrepreneur who recycles floral offerings from Hindu temples into artisanal, hand-dyed organic fabrics.
TRADITIONS OF OKLAHOMA’S : AN INTERVIEW WITH CURATOR DR. DAN SWAN
Native American culture is rich with symbolism & mysticism. Dr. Daniel Swan has spent four decades immersed in Oklahoma’s Native American Culture.
INTERVIEW WITH MAYAN SHAMAN ON SPIRITUAL PRACTICES AND PHILOSOPHY
A Mayan shaman reveals his knowledge about Mayan culture, cosmos, Mayan healing practices and Mayan spiritual beliefs in this interview.
SAN JUAN CHAMULA COMMUNITY SHARES BUT PROTECTS TRADITIONS
Visit the town of San Juan Chamula in Chiapas Highlands to experience the Tzotzil community’s spiritual blend of Catholicism and shamanism.
ENDANGERED LANGUAGES FORESEEN BY LINGUIST THIRTY YEARS AGO
Endangered languages are still preserved and revived thanks to Michael Krauss, renowned linguist and champion of linguistic diversity.
UNCOVERING CHIAPAS CULTURE WITH THE HERO OF CHIAPAS, MEXICO
Learning about Chiapas culture in Mexico’s San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Patricia Ferrer worked with “big man” Sergio Castro.
SONGS OF THE SETO, ESTONIA AN THE CYCLE OF LIFE
A tradition that is a cornerstone of Seto identity is leelo, an ancient polyphonic style of singing.
FATHER AND SON WEAVERS SHARE TRADITIONS OF ZAPOTEC PEOPLE
A tradition that is a cornerstone of Seto identity is leelo, an ancient polyphonic style of singing.
TEXTILES OF GUATEMALA OFFER MEANING AND SYMBOLISM OF TRADITIONS
The textiles of Guatemala are for sale at Nim Po’t, home of the world’s largest retail Mayan textile collection. Hear from the manager, Marco!
TAYRONA NATIONAL PARK IN COLOMBIA IS HOME TO THE KOGI PEOPLE
Tayrona National Park is home to the world’s “Elder Brothers,” the Kogi people. Their rituals and lifestyle are distinct to their culture.
DISTINCTIVE HUICHOL ART EMBODIES ANCIENT CULTURE
Intrigued by the Huinchol art of Mexico? Learn the backstory of the Huichol art mythology and culture from four traditional artisans.
AN INTERVIEW WITH ZAPOTEC ARTISAN CARLOMAGNO PEDRO MARTINEZ
An interview with Carlomagno Pedro Martinez who is a Zapotec artisan and a founder of the Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca.
CAMBODIAN CULTURE REVIVAL HEALS TRAUMA AND OFFERS OPPORTUNITY
Cambodian culture is preserved by the founder of Cambodian Living Arts, Arn Chorn Pond, who is a survivor of the Khmer Rouge.
ACCLAIMED GUATEMALA FOLK ART PAINTER REVEALS DRAMATIC LIFE
Folk art painter Oscar Peren is a leading artist at the “Comalapa School” in San Juan Comalapa, Guatemala and was interviewed by PAC.
KAQCHIKEL CULTURE OF GUATEMALA BASED ON FAMILY AND TRADITIONS
The culture of Guatemala is home to the Kaqchikel people, an indigenous Mayan group. Their lives revolve around family, tradition and food.