On the same month, Botswana coincidentally had a visit by the Special Rapporteur on Minority and Indigenous Rights. The visit was for the UN expert to assess minority group rights. Both these occurrences were extremely important. For the reason that it is the first time we explore this area together, this piece will largely be definitive, so that when next we explore this, we are on the same page.
Indigenous people, put simply, the first people. They have distinct socio-cultural practices, traditions and political characteristics from those in dominant societies in which they live. The understanding of “indigenous people” does not come from a definition, as there are many indigenous people, the world over. The understanding comes instead, from a number of elements which essentially are premised on “identification,” a word which in Setswana is boikao. Indigenous people are self-identifying and communally recognised as such. There is evidence of historical continuity with pre-colonial/protectorate societies. They generally have strong links to the land, and surrounding natural resources, and they are not the dominant groups in society. From this, it may be evident that there are always legal issues relating to indigenous people. Particularly, the issues arise from a question of identity, culture and knowledge, including cultural rights, and finally political participation.
