The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is celebrated annually on 9 August. In 2024 the theme is Protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact. In celebration of this day, the IFSW Indigenous Commission issues the following statement:
Overview of Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous Peoples continue as contemporary collectives and individuals around the world. The United Nations estimates that there more than 370 million Indigenous people worldwide, spread across 70 countries. Indigenous Peoples are the descendants of pre-colonial societies who lived in and cared for territories prior to invasion and occupation by members of other societies. Despite the impact of colonial settler societies that now dominate much of the world, Indigenous Peoples maintain historical continuity, unique traditions, and social, cultural, economic, and political characteristics distinct from surrounding societies. Rather than trying to force a monolithic definition on diverse Peoples, the United Nations recognizes that Indigenous Peoples retain the sovereign right and power to decide who belongs to them, without external interference and considers the following indicators of indigeneity:
- Self- identification as Indigenous and accepted by the community as their member
- Historical continuity with pre-settler societies
- Strong connection to territories and the natural world
- Distinct social, economic, or political systems
- Distinct language, culture, and beliefs
- Exist as non-dominant groups of society
- Resolve to remain as distinctive Peoples and communities.
Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation or initial contact
The majority of Indigenous Peoples living in voluntary isolation are in Latine America. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’ report, Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact in the Americas (2013) provides key definitions and information on this population:
Indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation are Indigenous peoples or segments of Indigenous peoples who do not maintain sustained contact with the majority non-Indigenous population, and who generally reject any type of contact with persons not part of their own people. They may also be peoples or segments of peoples previously contacted and who, after intermittent contact with the nonindigenous societies, have returned to a situation of isolation and break the relations of contact that they may have had with those societies (p. 4).
The IACHR notes that the use of the term “voluntary” to characterize the isolation of these Indigenous peoples has been questioned with the argument that it minimizes the fact that the decision to remain in or return to isolation is actually a response or reaction to the pressures of the surrounding society on their territories, and not a free exercise of their will. This report uses the term “voluntary” to highlight the importance of the right to self-determination, since even if the decision to remain in isolation is a survival strategy resulting in part from outside pressures, it is an expression of the autonomy of these peoples as holders of human rights, and as such should be respected (p. 4-5).
The most effective ways of ensuring full respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact is by protecting their lands, territories, and natural resources. Some states, such as Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil, have created areas of territory with specifically restricted access to avoid intrusions and undesired contacts (p. 33).
Colonization and inclusion
Settler societies have used a variety of mechanisms from warfare to social policies to eliminate Indigenous Peoples or incorporate them into broader societies. These include education and social policies designed to teach dominate languages and cultures, thereby assimilating Indigenous people. They also include conferring dominant society citizenship. The UNDRIP affirms that Indigenous people have the right to citizenship in the states that surround them as well as citizenship in their own Peoples. Nation states, however, have often imposed citizenship unilaterally, not in consultation with Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous Peoples have diverse perspectives on how, and to what extent, they are incorporated in dominant societies. While many social workers are used to championing equal rights and inclusion of diverse people in societies, it is essential that they pause rather than acting on their assumptions. Social workers must recognize that inclusion and incorporation are not always desired, sought, or well received by all Indigenous Peoples or individuals.
Nuanced understandings of contemporary voluntary isolation and separation
Peru currently has Indigenous communities living in voluntary isolation. Among them are the Kugapakori, Nahua, Nanti, Murunahua (or Chitonahua), Isconahua, Matsigenka and Mashco-Piro, located in the Peruvian Amazon and in some areas of the Department of Cusco (Madre de Dios). Entrance and transit within these territories are restricted by the communities protecting transgenerational knowledge and lands’ biodiversity.
Such peoples have adopted isolation measures to protect their health, wellbeing and traditional ways of life against external threats such as diseases (e.g., the flu virus), resource exploitation, and the territorial invasion. Indigenous Peoples are generators of knowledge and wisdom, not only protecting their ways of life, but also maintaining a strong relationship with nature as a source of nourishment.
Social workers must recognize the varied ways that contemporary Indigenous people seek isolation and separation from settler societies. While in areas like the Latin American examples provided above Indigenous Tribes may live in remote areas, in other parts of the world, maintaining a significant physical distance from colonial societies is no longer possible. For example, in areas like Europe and North America, historically many Indigenous people fled to avoid contact but contact became unavoidable as colonizers proliferated. There are, however, ways that some Indigenous people seek to limit contact (like retreating to the mountains, even for brief periods of time.) It is also notable that many Indigenous Peoples sought to limit contact during the pandemic, and many used their sovereignty to protect their boundaries from outside contact. Indeed, voluntary isolation can be defined broadly, and is an important concept for social workers to understand and respect.
Historically, the Sámi People lived in small communities and villages, close to nature, aligning with their worldview and daily interactions with the natural world. Today many Sámi still live this way, although as time passed and colonization processes continued, many Sámi are also living in cities. Colonization processes have led to competing uses of traditional Sámi land and waters, where Sámi have lived since time immemorial. Now, not only are Sámi in these territories, but settlers also use them for recreation and other uses. To maintain their traditions with closeness to nature, its beauty and silence, and to maintain closeness to their communities, Sámi can for a limited time seek voluntarily isolation, in solitude or together with family, friends and communities.
Today, many Native people around the world practice their own traditional ceremonies that may be seen as a form of voluntary isolation. Such ceremonies are conducted for certain periods of time and in different locations relevant to the tribe, family or situation. For example, many tribes invite specific people to a ceremony and there is usually a reason for each ceremony such as a need, celebration, or cleansing/purification and direction.
Social work implications
Social workers must recognize the richness of cultural diversity and the invaluable heritage of Indigenous Peoples around the world. Therefore, we reaffirm our commitment to respect and promote the defense of Indigenous rights. Voluntary isolation should not be interpreted as invisibility; but rather as a measure of protection, care, and preservation of something invaluable: our living history, cultures and traditions. With all due respect, social workers should know that this is not about them, it’s about our rights as Indigenous Peoples.
It is essential to promote public policies that respect the rights of all people, without distinction of ethnicity or culture. We must advocate in cases where those who defend their rights are criminalized. Too many murder cases go uninvestigated or are closed prematurely, as if an Indigenous person’s life has little value. Indigenous leaders are forgotten in the process, with insufficient investigations that fail to clarify their disappearance, thus perpetuating violence and suffering of their families and all of us who seek equality and justice.
We must commit to the protection of Indigenous rights and the empowerment of Indigenous people around the world. Social work agencies, universities, federations, and social work associations must work alongside Indigenous Peoples, to highlight inequities such as the lack of investigation of cases of missing, kidnapped, and murdered Indigenous people. We must raise awareness that the struggle belongs to everyone and is in defense of our essential roots and our humanity.
Social workers must respect and support the self-determination of Indigenous People who choose to seek isolation, in the short or long-term, as their inherent right.
Reference:
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. (2013). Indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact in the Americas. http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/indigenous/docs/pdf/report-indigenous-peoples-voluntary-isolation.pdf