Indigenous Peoples' Rights

Indigenous people are "first people," the ancestral inhabitants of a land before colonization or conquest by others, or those who have the earliest historical connection to a region. There are between three hundred million and five hundred million indigenous people worldwide; they live in almost every country of the world. Some live in remote areas in small hunter-gatherer groups, whereas others live in urban spaces. In most countries, indigenous people are minority populations with distinct religious, cultural, and linguistic traditions. Many indigenous groups also have a distinct racial or ethnic heritage.

During the era of exploration, developed nations sought natural resources and other riches that were not readily available in their own countries. As "new" continents were explored and brought...