BIOCULTURAL RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN INDIA AND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: AN ANALYSIS

Abstract

The indigenous people are the most vulnerable and excluded groups in the economic development process. The biocultural rights are the bundles of rights that protecting, recognising, welcoming, emphasising, considering, bearing, believing and solemnly declaring certain traditional practices, knowledge and values in order to bring the indigenous peoples, tribals and other distinct local communities into the mainstream of the development process. The right to development and right to self-determination is core of the biocultural rights of the indigenous people. Their traditional system of knowledge, biocultural heritage and traditional authorities needs to be protected. The development is inclusive only when it is participatory in the decision-making process at local, regional and national level. This research study is an attempt to find out the impacts and implications of various conventions and UN Declaration on the indigenous people under the international law. It will remind always that indigenous people were subject to historical injustices, colonial exploitation and impacts of human rights violation and dispossession of the forest land in the development process. It provides the permanent forum for resolving indigenous issues through the specialised national, international and UN agencies.