Knowra Indigenous peoples of South America Indigenous peoples of South America Indigenous peoples of South America are the diverse peoples descended from the continent’s pre-colonial populations, with distinct languages, cultures, territories, and political identities.
Quechua people : An Indigenous people of the Andes whose languages belong to the Quechuan family. Quechua-speaking communities span several Andean countries and include many distinct identities.
Indigenous peoples of the Americas : The diverse peoples descended from the populations living in the Americas before European colonization. South American Indigenous peoples belong to a wider continental history of settlement and survival.
Indigenous land rights : The rights of Indigenous peoples to own, use, govern, and protect their traditional lands and territories. Territorial rights are central to Indigenous claims against extraction and encroachment.
Columbian exchange : The transfer of organisms, people, diseases, and technologies between the Americas and Afro-Eurasia after 1492. Introduced diseases and ecological changes profoundly altered Indigenous populations and environments.
Indigenous peoples : Peoples with historical continuity to societies that predate colonization or the formation of modern states. This broader category includes Indigenous peoples beyond South America.
Aymara people : An Indigenous people centered on the Andean Altiplano of Bolivia, Peru, and Chile. Aymara communities have maintained a distinct language and political identity across national borders.
Indigenous languages of South America : The languages spoken by Indigenous communities in South America, belonging to numerous language families and isolates. Language diversity helps distinguish communities beyond broad regional or national labels.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples : A 2007 United Nations declaration setting international standards for Indigenous peoples’ rights. The declaration frames claims to self-determination, culture, and land in international law.
Indigenous resistance to European colonization : The varied military, political, and cultural efforts Indigenous peoples used to oppose European rule. Resistance shaped colonial boundaries and preserved communities, practices, and political authority.
Mestizo : A social and historical identity associated with mixed Indigenous and European ancestry in Latin America. Mestizo identity is distinct from Indigenous political identity, though individuals may relate to both.
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