Apologies for yesterday’s crimes: Spain and its Conquistadors
Mexico recently asked Spain to apologise for Hernan Cortes’ Conquista. Are apologies to the native peoples of the Western Hemisphere overdue?
The fall of the Aztecs: What lessons does it offer 500 years down the line
Down To Earth talks to historian Camilla Townsend about what the Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs means, especially to indigenous people in Mexico …
Why the WWF’s ‘Fortress Conservation’ model is ethically wrong
As India gets ready for the July 24 Supreme Court verdict on possible eviction of its forest-dwelling communities in response to conservationists&…
Debate over domiciles
The announcement of a domicile policy by the Jharkhand government has triggered protests, and a debate on how to define natives of the land
Simply Put: ‘I’ for indigenous, ‘E’ for Extinct
Anxiety, angst and anger in the High Arctic
As world powers race to extract the wealth of the melting Far North, the devastating impact on its ecology and indigenous peoples requires a …
Water in forests: Finding the blue in the greens
It is time we rediscover forests as a ‘water commons’ to aid India’s fight against climate change
Fortress Conservation: Tension in Tanzania’s Loliondo as troops move in to evict Maasai to make way for game reserve
The game reserve, once it materialises, will reportedly be used by the UAE royal family
IN PHOTOS: Dev gudis of Bastar get a new lease of life
Across India, sacred groves are known by many names. In Jharkhand, they are generally called sarnas; in Chhattisgarh, dev gudis, which means the …
The San people of southern Africa: where ethics codes for researching indigenous people could fail them
Researchers need to scrutinise such codes’ inherent and complex challenges. They also need to put collaboration at the heart of their work
US national allegedly killed by Sentinelese tribesmen in the Andamans
John Allen Chau had gone to North Sentinel island, hitherto out of bounds for visitors, reportedly for preaching the Gospel to the tribe
Why the move to foist a GI tag on Mandu’s baobab tree is a no-brainer
Commerce ministry’s drive to push up the Geographical Indications tally is a lazy exercise that does not benefit local communities
How Ukraine invasion will hit Russia’s marginalised: An indigenous activist explains
Down To Earth talks to Pavel Sulyandziga, an indigenous activist about what is happening in Russia, especially to its indigenous and marginalised …
People on Vanuatu’s Malekula Island speak more than 30 indigenous languages. Here’s why we must record them
Vanuatu has been described as the world’s “densest linguistic landscape”, with as many as 145 languages spoken by a population …
New evidence emerges on how Mayas fortified maize, built indoor toilets
Scientists find maize starch spherulites , a unique byproduct of nixtamalisation, as well as tapeworms at a Maya archaeological site
‘Las Casas’ defence of indigenous rights has left a deep mark on Pope Francis’
Down To Earth speaks to Carmody Grey, assistant professor of Catholic theology in the department of theology and religion, Durham University, UK, …
Major victory for indigenous groups in Ecuadorian Amazon
Chinese company pulls out of contract to drill for oil in remote rainforest after protests by indigenous groups
‘Indigenous people have been effective stewards of biodiversity globally’
Down To Earth speaks to University of Connecticut professor Prakash Kashwan about his book, Democracy in the Woods
Indigenous peoples globally being ‘criminalised’ for defending their rights
Physical violence as well as legal prosecution is used to label defenders as ‘criminals’ and the process is becoming widespread, says …
Quarter of the Amazon at point of no return, says new report; still possible to save remainder
Some 66% of the Amazon is subject to some type of constant or permanent pressure
A new project aims to document India’s customary laws
Documenting customary laws is a step towards community-led conservation
Boomerangs, spears and rocks: The story of Pemulwuy who challenged colonial Sydney
As Australia’s First Nations reflect after a bruising ‘Voice To Parliament’ referendum, they can take heart from the Bidjigal …
Remains of Empire: Trinity College to return spears taken by James Cook from Australian Aboriginal Nation
The spears were taken in 1770 from the Gweagal clan that inhabited the south shore of Botany Bay, Sydney
Come together, non-profit tells international community, as Bolsonaro takes charge
Amazon Watch adds voice to Brazil’s national indigenous movement that is mounting resistance to the far-right politician
500-year-old horn container discovered in South Africa sheds light on pre-colonial Khoisan medicines
For the Khoi and San people, not all medicines were meant to treat physiological illnesses. Healers were specialised individuals whose task was …