Role of indigenous technologies in relation to capability approach and human development of Indigenous Peoples

Abstract

Indigenous peoples have historically been the poorest and most excluded populations in many parts of the world. They have not only faced serious discrimination in terms of their basic rights to property, language, culture and citizenship but also in terms of access to basic services and essential material conditions for a satisfying life. In many countries there exists a high correlation between poverty and being indigenous with the socio-economic conditions and access to basic social services significantly worse for the indigenous peoples than for the non-indigenous population (Davis, 2002, Partridge et al. 1998). Over the past decade there has been a strong reaffirmation of indigenous identity and important advances in indigenous peoples’ human development. In particular, there has been an emergent trend of strong indigenous organizations and a new indigenous leadership as well as a growing awareness of the mestizo population about the multi-ethnic and pluricultural character of societies. This new trend of the strengthening of the indigenous movement forms the basis for indigenous peoples to define their own development priorities and to become the agents of their own human development.