Focus on the world’s indigenous people

The Fourth World & Sri Lanka
Author: Alex Perera
An author publication

Reviewed by R.S. Karunaratne

Although we are familiar with the term “Third World”, some of us are unaware of the “Fourth World.” According to the blurb appearing in the book, the term “Fourth world” refers to a sub-population subjected to social exclusion in global society.

After the publication of The Fourth world: an Indian Reality by George Manuel in 1974, the term has come to be known as a synonym for stateless, impoverished and marginalised nations. With the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, their communication and organising among the fourth world people, the term has gained currency.

The book is mainly about the world's indigenous communities with special reference to Veddahs of Sri Lanka, popularly known as Vanniyaleatto. The first part of the book defines indigenous people and their rights. The second part deals with Veddahs.

Prof Herath M. Bandara, director, Sabaragamuwa University in his preface says it is very difficult to define indigenous people and their identity. The author has discussed indigenous people's rights and their struggle for freedom and identity.

Traditions

According to the author, there are more than 370 million indigenous people spread across 70 countries. They have their own traditions, social, cultural and political characteristics that are unique. He believes that they are the descendants of those who first inhabited a particular geographical area. However, those who came to the area later became dominant as they were militarrily superior to the original settlers.

Indigenous people in many countries have been identified by different names. So, we have Lakota in the United States, Mayas in Gautemala, Saami in northern Europe and Aborigines in Australia. Sri Lanka is home to Veddahs or Vanniyaleatto. All these people have a problem of identity. According to the United Nations, the most fruitful approach is to identify indigenous people rather than trying to define them. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has adopted the following definition to identify them:

“... the social, cultural and economic conditions (of indigenous people) distinguish them from other sections of the national community and whose status is regulated wholly or partially by their own customs or traditions or by special laws or regulations...”

Characteristics

Similarly, the World Bank has identified indigenous people in varying degrees of certain characteristics. The book provides them in detail. Apart from definitions, we have to understand indigenous people, their aspirations and rights. Chapter two has been devoted for this purpose. Indigenous people are concerned with their legal right to territory they occupy and their right to use natural resources. They are also proud of their culture and they like to participate in the country's development process. Indigenous people also want more autonomy to manage their own affairs.

Chapter three discusses the distribution of indigenous people in the world. The author gives a graphic account of their distribution in countries such as Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Canada, the Unites States, Mexico, Gautamala, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Suriname, and Sri Lanka.

What does the future hold for the indigenous people across the globe? The author has discussed the problem in detail in chapter four. He says that being an indigenous person in modern times means balancing revered traditions, culture and languages with the demands of a world dominated by technology.

Robert Knox

Readers will find Robert Knox's 1681 account of the Veddahs quite interesting. In his account Knox says, “They never cut their hair but tie it up on their crowns in a bunch. The cloth they use is neither broad nor large, scarcely enough to cover their buttocks. The wilder and tamer sort of them do both observe a religion. They have a god peculiar to themselves. The tamer do build temples, the wild only bring their sacrifice under trees and whilst offering it dance round it.”

Chapter eight is devoted to Veddahs, the indigenous peoples of Sri Lanka. Anthropologists believe that Veddahs were identical with Yakkhas of yore. Sinhala-speaking Veddahs are found primarily in the south-eastern part of the country.

There are also Sinhala-speaking Veddahs in the Anuradhapura district. However, Tamil is the primary language of Veddahs found in the Eastern province. The Veddahs’ cultural activities, burials, cult of the dead, clothing and livelihood have been explained vividly.

Not only anthropologists but also the general reader has much to gain by reading The Fourth world and Sri Lanka.