What Is Meant by Indigenous People?

Have you ever wondered what is meant by indigenous people? You frequently hear the term in movies, television shows, or even on the radio. You most likely heard the term in one of your history classes, but you may not be aware what the term entails. So, then what is meant by indigenous people?

The term indigenous people refers to any ethnic group that live in a country or in a geographical area, and these people are the earliest known individuals to ever live in this place. For example, the Native Americans were indigenous to the United States because they are the earliest known inhabitants of the U.S. Indigenous people are occasionally called aborigines, native people, first people, or autochthonous.

So, then now that you know what is meant by indigenous people, we can examine some indigenous groups throughout the world.

The Chaga People of Tanzania

The Chaga people, also known as the Chagga, the Jagga, the Dschagga, and the Wachagga are Bantu speaking people. As of 2010, they were the third largest ethnic group in Tanzania. The majority of these individuals live on the eastern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, and in the Moshi area.

The staple of the Chaga diet are bananas. They also eat yams, beans, and maize. Although they speak Bantu, they speak a number of different dialects in the language. This means that the group does not have one unified language, and it instead has a number of different dialects.

The Iteso People of Uganda and Kenya

The Iteso people, also known as the Teso people, live mainly in the districts of Amuria, Soroti, Kumi, Pallisa, Bukedea, and Torono in Uganda. In Kenya, the majority of these individuals live in the Teso District. As of 2010, they were the second largest ethnic group in Uganda. The people usually speak the Ateso language.

According to historians, the Iteso migrated from Ethiopia in approximately 1600 A.D. After migrating from Ethiopia, the group split into two factions. One faction went to Uganda, and one faction went to Kenya.    

The Khoikhoi People of South Africa

The Khoikhoi people, also known as the Khoi people, have lived in South Africa since the fifth century. They are related to the Bushmen in Africa. When the Europeans migrated to Africa in the seventeenth century, the people relied on agriculture for sustenance and were farmers. Between 1904 and 1907, the Khoi people and the Herero people battled against the Germans who had colonized in Namibia. Due to this war, approximately half of the Khoi population was decimated. This was approximately ten thousand individuals.  

The Paipai People of Mexico

The Paipai people are an indigenous group in the north of Baja California, in Mexico. Historically, they occupied the area between the Kiliwa, the Kumeyaay and Cocopa, and the area by the Colorado River in the east. As of 2010, they are mainly located in Santa Catarina.

They speak their own distinct language, referred to as the Paipai language. Historically, the people were hunters and gatherers. Their diet consisted mainly of agave, yucca, mesquite, acorns, pine nuts, juniper berries, prickly pears, and natural animals. Some of the natural animals that these people consumed include: deer, rabbits, fish, and bighorn sheep.

The Mayo People of Mexico

The Mayo people, also known as the Yoreme people, are indigenous to Mexico as well. Historically, they were located near the Mayo River. As of 2010, these people live throughout Sonora and Sinaloa in Mexico.

They have their own unique language, referred to as Mayo. The Mayo language is considered a Uto-Aztecan language. It is similar to the language Yaqui. However, the people also speak Spanish. As of 1995, their population was estimated at approximately forty thousand people.

The religion of the Mayo People is Roman Catholicism, and they sustain themselves through agriculture and fishing. They are also known for their intricate arts.