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p. 3 of 8 BACK | NEXT Introduction Definition of Indigenous People Indigenous Peoples and Development Laws and Conventions Affecting Indigenous Peoples Policy Objectives, Processes and, Approaches Organizational Implications and Resource Requirements Policy on Indigenous Peoples Key Elements in an Indigenous Peoples Development Plan

Policy on Indigenous Peoples

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Indigenous Peoples and Development

As socioeconomic development takes place, many development initiatives are extending farther into geographically remote areas often considered the traditional homelands of indigenous peoples; these areas offer resources such as forests, minerals, and hydropower potential. Roads, power transmission lines, and other infrastructure development initiatives similarly are extending into the traditional areas of indigenous peoples. In parallel with physical and economic development, dominant and mainstream populations and cultures also are extending into the traditional areas of indigenous peoples.

Protection of indigenous peoples from development or maintenance of a status quo for indigenous peoples should not be a development objective. At the same time, it is not uncommon that interests of indigenous peoples differ from those of the mainstream, and that development policies and approaches addressing the interests of dominant and mainstream communities conflict with the interests of indigenous peoples. What may be in the broad national interest may not be in the specific interests of indigenous peoples, and development emerging from dominant and mainstream community-oriented initiatives may arrive in forms not consistent with indigenous peoples' interests or concerns.

Development as it most often is pursued is intended to meet national goals and the interests of dominant and mainstream societies. Reducing poverty and improving the quality of life of people in general most often are the primary objectives of development. However, it is not always the case that poverty reduction and improvement in the quality of life realized from development extend equally to all segments of society, or that improvement reaches each segment of society. Moreover, in mainstream-oriented economic development policies, indigenous peoples communities may bear a disproportionate burden of the negative social, economic, and environmental effects that such development projects may bring, without realizing commensurate benefits.

Goals and Objectives of Development

There may be differences in views between dominant and mainstream societies and indigenous peoples communities as to the broad goals and objectives that development should pursue. Development viewed from the mainstream often is measured in terms of economic advancement or gain and improvement in quality of life, and most often places emphasis on economic growth. From the development perspective of indigenous peoples, in addition to economic advancement, there may also be concern for social, cultural, environmental, and community aspects of development¾development as a combination of economic advancement and social, cultural, and community development. Indigenous peoples sometimes view the principles and efforts of mainstream development as inappropriate or unsustainable, and as an intrusion into traditional ways of life. The physical intrusions of development interventions into the traditional domains of indigenous peoples, and social intrusions into indigenous cultures, can be viewed by indigenous peoples and others as a violation of rights¾human rights, rights to land, and rights associated with the maintenance of culture.

Culture and Development

Indigenous peoples' desires to protect their cultural identities and to preserve aspects of culture based in ancestral lands and resources is receiving increasing recognition within the international development community. Increasing recognition is being given to the principle of indigenous peoples determining their own pace and path of development, and there is increasing recognition that social and cultural diversity is in the interest of society and is not an obstacle to national development or economic stability. There is increasing recognition that there is dignity in all cultures, that there should be equality in opportunity for all segments of society, and that all segments of society deserve opportunities for equal access to both the factors and the benefits of development.

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