Can we still be indigenous in the 21st Century?

Question

This question was asked at the Dropping Knowledge event on 9th
September by Anonymous, Helsinki, Finland.

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Answer 1

Wow! Amazing how many people can't find a dictionary. So, I've included the link + definition.
Anyway - we are in the 21st century. And there aren't that may places left in this world that are so remote that we can isolate the population to maintain their indigenous roots.
Once the population starts to become exposed to our 21st century person, not only to the traits of the 21st centurty start to infuse into the once isolated culture, but so do the genes.
This is evidienced in New Zealand for example, where the last pure Moriori died in 1933. Captain James Cook found and started populating NZ in 1769. It took a little more than a hundred years to dilute the Moriori population.
In the 21st century, things are a lot faster by reason of technology and also mind expasiveness (by this I mean an increasing tolerance to other cultures). So by the end of this century, we really might see few, if any purely indigenous people.

Side note 1: In past centuries, it was easier to keep people indigenous to their own lands because of geographical boundaries such as mountains, rivers and oceans. In this century, these georgraphical barriers are easily over come.

Side note 2: Prior to this century, the blending of people from different cultures has been difficult - even within their own geographic regions (see India for an example) because of cultural/religious dogma. This century is seeing the breaking down of the old beliefs and guidelines. We are witnessing a century where people think more for themselves than before.

Answer 2

Yes...

being in the 21st century should have nothing to do with being indigenous, unless you base it on tradition and a tradition of old techology which is not the definition I hold for indigenous people.

Indigenous people such as Native Americans are still indigenous in the 21st century because of where they came from, their ethnicity, and their history... some may live the old way and some may live embracing the current trends within the 21 century...

either way Native Americans are still indigenous.

(I'm just using Native Americans as an example here, I mean you could say any existing tribes left in Africa, Austraila, even within Europe and Asia too)

NOTE:
I mean to tell you the truth this is like asking a Chicano if they still consider themselves or others still consider them to be Chicano in the 21st century LOL!

::: Peace :::

Answer 3

The only place the human race is truly indigenous to is the planet. I suppose certain groups of people have been in specific locations for a long time, but within those groups no race is specific to any given area, except for a few pockets here and there: The Inuit Indians living in Alaska come to mind or Hawaiians, but even they migrated from "somewhere."

The world has always been a land grab from the beginning of time and I suppose will always be. The guy with the biggest guns gets his choice, and so on. It's just the nature of things.

Answer 4

as a euopean mutt, residing on stolen land taken with terrorist force, it is hard for me to answer this question because my biology and celluar structures have little or no concept of what it feels like to be indigenous. Perhaps the best I can do is try to create an authentic reverant integration into the land I inhabit and engage in the rituals and practices that the natives of this land once did. Otherwise, I would have to divinde my being into many sections and them distribute them all over the European continent to even have the chance at an authentic indigenous life.

Answer 5

indigenous - ADJECTIVE: 1. Originating and living or occurring naturally in an area or environment. indigenously, indigenousness Additional references: Wikipedia

It depends on you and who the we are that you are referring to. I have always thought that the natives of Finland who speak the language and carry on from generation to generation were all indigenous. The people who are not are those who are visiting your fair land. Now if a group of people, let's say some Muslim terrorist group, were to come into Finland and kill everybody for being infidel, you would no longer be indigenous in Finland. After the group who took it over has been there for a time THEY become the indigenous group for that area. Even the name of the country, Finland, would be changed to represent the name of the new indigenous people who live there.

Answer 6

Life is getting more difficult for native peoples who want to live their own lives.
Climate change.
Development.
Acid rain.
Depopulation of fisheries.
Instant communication and pop culture.
If they are not specifically aided, these rich cultures will be assimilated, and lost, to the world's loss.

Answer 7

I guess you're referring to the idea that the globe is just one big, happy family instead of each of us taking pride in our heritage?

Yes, we are and will continue to be indigenous.

.

Answer 8

I don't think your question makes any sense. If you mean can we still keep our culture then yes. Other then that I have no idea what you mean.

Answer 9

If you mean to ask, "Can we stop change?", the answer is no. Let go. Meditate. Eat an orange.

Answer 10

What does indigenous mean? I couldn't find it on your blog!?!?!?