Who are Indigenous Peoples?
Diversity between regions and countries, and differences in backgrounds, cultures, history, and conditions have proved extremely difficult for the development of one single definition, at an international level, applicable to all Indigenous communities. In accordance with international consensus, FAO abides by the following criteria when considering Indigenous Peoples:
- Priority in time, with respect to occupation and use of a specific territory;
- The voluntary perpetuation of cultural distinctiveness, which may include aspects of language, social organization, religion, and spiritual values, modes of production, laws, and institutions;
- Self-identification, as well as recognition by other groups, or by State authorities, as a distinct collectivity; and
- An experience of subjugation, marginalization, dispossession, exclusion or discrimination, whether or not these conditions persist.
KEY DATA ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
There are 476 million Indigenous Peoples in the seven socio-cultural regions of the world, in 90 countries, belonging to more than 5,000 different groups.
Asia has the largest concentration of Indigenous Peoples with 70.5 %, followed by Africa with 16.3 %, and Latin America with 11.5 %. In Canada and the United States of America, Indigenous Peoples represent 6.7 % of the total population.
Indigenous Peoples make up 6.2% of the global population with the majority living in middle-income countries.
Indigenous Peoples represent more than 19% of the extreme poor.
Indigenous Peoples' territories encompass 28% of the surface of the globe and contain 11 %of the world’s forests.
Indigenous Peoples are guardians to almost 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity.
Indigenous Peoples’ food systems have high levels of self-sufficiency ranging from 50 % to 80% in food and resources generation.
- Available in English, Spanish
FAO, 2021
This White/Wiphala paper on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems is the result of collective work by Indigenous Peoples’ representatives and experts, scientists, researchers, and UN staff. Over 47 different units, organizations, and institutions have contributed to the Paper from the seven socio-cultural regions. This final version of the White/Wiphala paper has been coordinated by the Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems and edited by a Technical Editorial Committee, and summarises the main points received.
- Available in English
FAO, The Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, 2021
This publication provides an overview of the common and unique sustainability elements of Indigenous Peoples' food systems, in terms of natural resource management, access to the market, diet diversity, indigenous peoples’ governance systems, and links to traditional knowledge and indigenous languages. While enhancing the learning on Indigenous Peoples food systems, it will raise awareness on the need to enhance the protection of Indigenous Peoples' food systems as a source of livelihood for the 476 million indigenous inhabitants in the world, while contributing to the Zero Hunger Goal.
FAO, 2010
The “FAO Policy on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples” has been formulated so as to ensure that FAO will make all due efforts to respect, include and promote Indigenous Peoples issues in its work. In doing so, FAO joins the international community’s increasing mobilization in favour of the rights and concerns of Indigenous Peoples.