This is a question that comes up frequently. There is a large array of terminology that is used to describe Indigenous people. With the Year of Indigenous Education, I thought I would share how a well-known Indigenous author, Linda Tuhiwai Smith in her book “Decolonizing Methodologies”, describes what “Indigenous people” means.
This term is relatively new and it came out in the 1970’s from the American Indian Movement and the Canadian Indian Brotherhood. It ‘internationalizes the experiences, the issues and the struggles of some of the world’s colonized peoples’ (Wilmer 1993). It signifies the right of people to self-determination (Smith 1999). It also brings together communities and people who have experienced colonization to learn from one another and work towards self-determination (Smith 1999).
Linda Smith’s book “Decolonizing Methodologies” is an excellent book for academics and researchers who are interested in working in indigenous context and serves as an excellent resource to help us learn about the intricate history, politics and cultural issues.
Jessica ~ Graduate Academic Assistant – 2013 Walkabout Tour