Marginalization of Indigenous Communities and Indigenous Peoples

Reported by: Rutchell D. Daguplo

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MARGINALIZATION OF RURAL AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

The

control of state over forests has largely been at the expense of forest dwellers, indigenous peoples, women and local communities following a history of incorporation of the forest
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In many countries especially

in Southeast Asia, the state owns majority of the land called public lands. Forestry laws, which override the basic agrarian law, criminalized unauthorized occupation or working of official forest areas and prohibit the cutting and
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The alienation of forest lands

from local communities has longterm damaging effects on traditional regulative institutions that control access to resources. The damage maybe so severe that, even when local populations subsequently manage to reassert their rights 3/11/13 to forest resources, deforestation

 Most

government policies bias against local people and in favor of timber-based economies which also severely damaged the evolution of democratic institutions in tropical countries. This has undetermind democratic principles and caused an increasing marginalization of rural people, who find they can no longer rely on their political representatives to defend their interests.
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Like forestry reserves, national

parks established on indigenous lands have denied local rights to resources, turning local people practically overnight from being hunters and cultivators into poachers and squatters. The problem is widespread.
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THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (from: IFAD,2003)

v Poverty is closely linked to

marginalization, and among the most vulnerable and marginalized of the rural 3/11/13 poor are indigenous peoples

v Living in remote areas, far

from centers of commerce and power, they may also find it difficult to influence the policies, laws, and institutions that can improve their circumstances and shape their futures. Many indigenous people do not have the legal right to live on the lands they depend for 3/11/13

Culture

Tradition and Indigenous Peoples

and traditions are exceedingly important for indigenous peoples. on a close relationship with natural resources, for both subsistence and spiritual needs.

Their value systems are often based

They

play a crucial role in the stewardship of the earths natural resources and biodiversity. 3/11/13

Have rich and varied local systems of

traditional knowledge, such as ecosystems management, technologies, medicinal plants and local crops.
Territories where indigenous peoples

live hold considerable economic potential as sources of water, timber and high-value niche products such as medicinal plants, organic foods and hand-woven products. These products are increasingly the focus of commercial interest but indigenous communities rarely receive a fair 3/11/13

Issues Crucial for the Indigenous People

Secure access to their lands Empowerment Recognition

through capacitybuilding and genuine participation and revitalization of indigenous knowledge and culture to bilingual cultural education and cross-

Promotion of inter-cultural awareness Support

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Enhancement

of indigenous identity and self-esteem autonomous action in the face of constructing social sanctions and structural inequalities

Promotion of womens capacity for

Strengthen

institutions

and

organizations

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Sapay kuma ta naawatan yow apow!!! THANK YOU and GODBLESS ....
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