Indigenous People and the Roles of Culture, Law and Globalization

This book explores the history, culture, rights and the effects of globalization on indigenous people in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Africa from an evaluative and critical perspective. Unlike discipline-based textbooks, this volume seeks to contribute to the social discourse around indigenousness and to engage readers in a shared sense of humanity and empowerment for these groups of individuals. Among the issues addressed are: who indigenous people are, culture and colonization, self-determination, the impact of legal theory and judicial decisions, land rights, poverty, lack of healthcare, international human rights law, tourism, treaties, and globalization. The book concludes by addressing what it means to be an indigenous person in the 21st century, and calling upon policymakers to recognize the importance of preserving indigenous people's territories, languages, cultures and collective rights.