In today's fast developing world the indigenous people of many a land are forced to grope and struggle with the changes affecting their life; they cannot keep up with the pace as many still observe cultural and religious practices most of us deem as primitive in a modern sense. But to them they are a natural way of life. And it is something we all should learn to accept and respect. More than us it is they who have a right to the land which they inhabited before us.

But we simply seem to forget all this just as much as we forget that the Earth belongs to all humanity and living creatures, not just to a few of us. Development has posed a threat to the very existence of many indigenous people around the world today. And, it is in this respect that the UN has declared a special day to focus attention on the urgent need to create an awareness of the diverse problems faced by them as a result of the development projects initiated by the governments of their respective countries.

There are many indigenous people around the world.If you are wondering who is classified as an indigenous group of people or natives, they are all those who lived in a land or region and had their own cultural identity before any other foreign people invaded the area and dominated them.Several names are used in various countries to identify such groups of people, but they generally are regarded as the "original inhabitants" of a territory or region.

Due to the unavailability of census data and also the vast number of groups, no estimates of the total population of indigenous people are available. Recent studies estimate the range from 300 million to 350 million as at the start of the 21st century. This would equate to just fewer than 6 per cent of the total world population. This includes at least 5,000 distinct peoples in over 72 countries.

We in Sri Lanka are familiar with the Veddah community who are now referred to as Wanniela eththo or aadivasis.They too are facing numerous problems following modernisation. Some members of the aadivasi community have integrated with the rest of the population today and have blended with modern society but the rest are strongly holding on to their cultural identity. They still hold on to age-old traditions and rituals, and live in confined areas of the country.

Today they are struggling to live their traditional lifestyles without becoming a burden to the rest of the society. It is important that we understand their needs and support them in their struggle to exist side by side with the rest of the modern society, without losing their cultural identity.

Should they be forced to abandon their identity and blend with the rest of the world or should they be afforded all the facilities possible to protect their identity and live in this fast developing modern world ? It is something that we need to urgently look into because they too have a right to self determination like the rest of the population.

In fact, the land initially belonged to them, and most indigenous people such as the American Indians, the Maories, Aborgines and our very own Aadivasi people have a deeper love for the environment than modern day man does. The speech made by Chief Seattle when handing over the land to the white man in America is ample proof of the love and respect they had for the land ...

When International Day of the World's indigenous people comes around on August 9 we must focus attention on how best we could help this native community, which is an important segment of society, continue into the future prserving thei cultural identity. Learn as much as you can about the customs, traditions and rituals of this oldest community in the country .Even the language they speak is so fascinating The next time you make a trip to Mahiyangane, make sure to pay them a visit.

Fast Facts

*Greek sources of the classical period acknowledge the prior existence of indigenous people(s), whom they referred to as "Pelasgians".

* Indigenous peoples of the American continents are broadly recognised as being those groups and their descendants who inhabited the region before the arrival of European colonizers and settlers.

*All nations in North and South America have populations of indigenous peoples within their borders. In some countries (particularly Latin American), indigenous peoples form a sizable component of the overall national population.

* In English, indigenous peoples are collectively referred to by several different terms which vary by region.

*Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuitand Matis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" are falling into disuse in Canada.

* National Aboriginal Day recognises the cultures and contributions of Aboriginals to the history of Canada.

* The Inuit have achieved a degree of administrative autonomy with the creation in 1999 of the territories of Nunavik (in Northern Quebec), Nunatsiavut (in Northern Labrador) and Nunavut, which was until 1999 a part of the Northwest Territories. The self-administering Danish territory of Greenland is also home to a majority population of indigenous Inuit (about 85per cent).

*Indigenous peoples are found in the entire territory of Brazil, although the majority of them live in Indian reservations in the North and Center-Western part of the country.

* The vast regions of Asia contain the majority of the world's present-day Indigenous populations, about 70 per cent. The most substantial populations are in India, which constitutionally recognises a range of "Scheduled Tribes" within its borders. These various peoples (collectively referred to as Aadivasis, or tribal peoples) number about 68 million (1991 census figures, approximately 8 per cent of the total national population).

* Many of the present-day Pacific Island nations in the Oceania region were originally populated by Polynesian, Melanesian and Micronesian peoples over the course of thousands of years.

* In most parts of Oceania, indigenous peoples outnumber the descendants of colonists. Exceptions include Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. According to the 2001 Australian census, indigenous Australians make up 2.4 per cent of the total population, while in New Zealand 14.6 per cent of the population identify at least partially as indigenous M�ori, with slightly more than half (53per cent ) of all M�ori residents identifying solely as M�ori. The M�ori are indigenous to Polynesia and settled New Zealand relatively recently, the migrations were thought to have occurred between 1000-1200 CE.

* In December 1993, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, and requested UN specialised agencies to consider with governments and indigenous people how they can contribute to the success of the Decade of Indigenous People, commencing in December 1994. As a consequence, the World Health Organization, at its Forty-seventh World Health Assembly established a core advisory group of indigenous representatives with special knowledge of the health needs and resources of their communities, thus beginning a long-term commitment to the issue of the health of indigenous peoples

* Indigenous Peoples worldwide number between 300-500 million, embody and nurture 80 per cent of the world’s cultural and biological diversity, and occupy 20 per cent of the world’s land surface.

*Like all cultures and civilizations, Indigenous Peoples are always adjusting and adapting to changes in the world.

* Indigenous Peoples recognise their common plight and work for their self-determination; based on their respect for the Earth.

Courtesy: Internet

Wanniela eththo hold their own perahera.....

Has anyone of you witnessed the vigorous dance rituals performed by the Aadivasi community at the end of the Sri Sumana Saman Devale perahera in Mahiyangane which is held during the perahera season? If not, make an effort to see it when it is held at the end of the month (August 30 and 31). The Devale perahera which is held for 14 days is followed by the Maha perahera. The Vedi perahera, as it is called, is held soon after the Maha perahera. However, it is not held as a procession as is normal in most peraheras.

The Aadivasi community performs many age-old rituals during this perahera . First they make offerings and pay homage to the Maha Loku Kiri Amma . Then, in the early morning ,around 3.00a.m. after applying bees honey on their bodies and covering themselves in pods of cotton wool, carrying sticks in their hands , they dance ,run and shout in the devale premises in imitation of the protest carried out initially by their ancestors during the Buddha's time.They continue in this manner until they reach the Mahaweli River. Here they bathe in the river and by about 5.30 a.m they go in procession with offering to God Saman and beg forgiveness from him for their ignorant act in the past. Their perahera comes to an end only after they pay homage to both God Saman and Maha Loku Kiri Amma, and boil milk.

Now, many of you may be baffled as to what these rituals denote. Most of you must be familiar with the story of how the Buddha visited Mahiyangane and even left a sacred hair relic to mark His first visit to our motherland. On this occassion it is said that God Saman too listened to a sermon delivered by the Buddha.

However, the ancient tribes,the Yaksha and Naga clans who lived in the region during this time had been disturbed by the presence of God Saman and shot him with an arrow in protest. After having done so, they had run away towards the Mahaweli river,in fear that they might have killed him.

Here they had come upon God Saman’s sister,(Maha Loku Kiri Amma) who is believed to have warned them about the futility of their protest against him. She had instead asked them to stop protesting and be obedient to him.

After having realised the gravity of their actions, the ancestors of the present day Aadivasi community are believed to have cleansed themselves in the waters of the Mahaweli river and gone to ask forgiveness from God Saman with offerings of sweet oranges. It is this incident that is being commemotated annually during the Sri Sumana Saman Devale perahera to this day, by the present generation of the Aadivasis.

Facts and pix: Susantha Wijegunasekera