Category: First People
The Kalasha: Pakistan’s Beautiful Ancient Tribe on the Brink of Extinction
The Kalasha (or Kalash) are a unique Dardic indigenous people residing in three remote valleys of the Hindu Kush mountains in Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province: Bumburet, Rumbur, and Birir. Often called “Pakistan’s Pagans,” they are renowned for their vibrant culture, ancient polytheistic religion, and distinct identity, which stands in stark contrast to the predominantly Muslim population…
शंकर शाह मरावी और रघुनाथ शाह मरावी : गोंडवाना के बलिदानी वीर
भारत का स्वतंत्रता संग्राम केवल 1857 की लड़ाई या बाद के राष्ट्रीय आंदोलनों तक सीमित नहीं था। इसकी जड़ें बहुत गहरी थीं, जिनमें आदिवासी और स्थानीय शासक अपने-अपने ढंग से अंग्रेजी सत्ता का विरोध कर रहे थे। इन भूले-बिसरे नायकों में शंकर शाह मरावी और उनके पुत्र रघुनाथ शाह मरावी का नाम अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण है।…
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: A Global Framework for Justice
On 13 September 2007, after decades of struggle and negotiation, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). For the world’s First Peoples, this was not just another UN document—it was a recognition of survival, dignity, and justice after centuries of colonization, land dispossession, and cultural erasure. Although…
Kurmi ST Controversy: Identity, Politics, and the Fear of a “Second Manipur”
The demand of the Kurmi community for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status has re-ignited one of the most sensitive debates in eastern India. Spread across Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha, Kurmis identify themselves as an indigenous community, historically linked with agriculture and rural life. Yet, their exclusion from the ST list after independence continues to shape…
Restoring a River: How Indigenous Leadership and Salmon Survival Drove the Klamath Dam Removal
In the rugged landscapes of southern Oregon and northern California, a historic transformation is underway. The Klamath River, once one of the most productive salmon rivers in the United States, is finally being given a chance to heal. The demolition of four hydroelectric dams—J.C. Boyle, Copco 1, Copco 2, and Iron Gate—marks the largest dam…
The Living River: Whanganui and the Maori Struggle for Recognition
The Whanganui River, known to the Māori as Te Awa Tupua, flows through the North Island of New Zealand for more than 290 kilometers, making it the country’s third-longest river. But for the Māori people, especially the Whanganui iwi (tribe), it is far more than a geographical feature. The river is an ancestor, a living…
Ministry of Tribal Affairs Launches Digital Learning Platform “Adi Sanskriti”
First-of-its-kind initiative to preserve, promote, and empower tribal art and culture New Delhi, September 10, 2025 — The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the beta version of “Adi Sanskriti”, a pioneering digital learning platform designed to preserve and promote India’s diverse tribal artforms. The launch took place at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, during the…
मुड़मा जतरा: उरांव समाज के इतिहास और संस्कृति का जीवंत उत्सव
झारखंड की पहचान उसकी विविध जनजातीय परंपराओं और सांस्कृतिक धरोहर से जुड़ी है। इन्हीं परंपराओं में एक प्रमुख स्थान रखता है मुड़मा जतरा, जो न केवल उरांव समाज का सबसे बड़ा सांस्कृतिक आयोजन है बल्कि झारखंड के ऐतिहासिक मेलों में भी अग्रणी है। रांची से लगभग 25 किलोमीटर दूर, रांची-लोहरदगा मार्ग पर स्थित मुड़मा गांव…
Indigenous Beliefs in Arabia Before Islam: Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions
When we think of Arabia today, we usually imagine Islam as its central religion and culture. But before the rise of Islam in the 7th century CE, the Arabian Peninsula had a rich and diverse religious landscape. It was not a land of a single god or one system of belief. Instead, it was home…
“You invaded our land first”: Immigration Protests and the Voice of Australia’s First People
Indian Migrants in the Crossfire Australia often prides itself on being a multicultural society. But that image has cracked wide open in recent weeks. On 31 August 2025, thousands took to the streets of Sydney, Melbourne, and other cities under the banner of “Stop Mass Immigration.” Protesters claimed that mass migration was responsible for: skyrocketing…