Ashley Marie Wentz

As a white person growing up in a predominately white society, my understanding of indigenous peoples has been limited by my experience and education. If I had to define the term simply, I would say it refers to the people who populated an area before it was colonized by another group – the original inhabitants of the land. This definition fits closely with one of the United Nation’s (UN) identifying characteristics, “historical continuity or association with a given region prior to colonization or annexation” (Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 2008), but there are several other criteria included. The UN has not adopted a formal definition for indigenous peoples but uses a set of standards to identify and understand indigenous groups (Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 2008).

Assigning a firm definition to indigenous peoples has been deemed undesirable and impossible by indigenous peoples’ representatives due to the vast diversity of indigenous groups around the world (Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 2008). There can be no one definition to fit all indigenous peoples. By applying one definition or requiring a group to adhere strictly to specific criteria to be considered indigenous, we risk excluding some groups or holding them to unrealistic standards. According to Shrinkhal (2014), strict definitions can present problems for indigenous groups, such as limiting their right to self-determination and exclusion from certain benefits. For these reasons, the identifying characteristics must be flexible to meet the needs of all indigenous peoples.

When studying other cultures, I consider myself a critic and humanist. I truly enjoy learning about the customs, ideals, belief systems, etc., of different cultures. Understanding and appreciating the vast array of humans and how each culture contributes to the world appeals to the humanist in me. I also like to know how and why civilizations have changed over time and connect that information with current events. Examining how history and culture have affected our contemporary society allows me to question how things are done and advocate for a more just society. I hope to apply both of these perspectives to this course and gain a stronger appreciation for indigenous cultures.

Angela Carly Cochran (She/Her)

Society has not given me much of a perspective of indigenous people as it is typically something that is only talked about in history classes. I had little to no exposure to learning about indigenous people in my upbringing and was not exposed to this in today’s society. My understanding of indigenous people is that they are a collective group of people with shared beliefs, traditions, values, politics, and language of historical societies that differ from other societies in which they reside. They are also a collective group of people who are native to the land, prior to colonization of their lands and who have been displaced or overlooked in mankind’s quest for land and resources. The need for self-identification helps to preserve the recognition of indigenous peoples’ status and protect their rights.

Identifying indigenous people is not a simple task and requires identification rather than a definition of one’s group in order to establish a title and national protection. “According to the UN the most fruitful approach is to identify, rather than define indigenous peoples” (United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, n.d.). The UN adopted a list of criteria for those pursuing the identification of indigenous people which includes self-identification. “In some cases, however, the notion of being indigenous has pejorative connotations and people may choose to refuse or redefine their indigenous origin. Such choices must be respected, while at the same time, any discrimination based on indigenous peoples’ cultures and identity must be rejected” (Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 2008). This limits their abilities to self-identify and restricts them from protection and lands that are their right.

When studying other cultures I would identify myself as a humanist and reformer. As a humanist, I try to respect other cultures and learn from them while appreciating their richness and diversity. As a reformer, I see myself learning through others what their cultural beliefs and practices are to better help those in need. As a child welfare worker, this is something I put into practice daily when working with others, and understanding cultural differences is key to collaborating with the families that I serve.