Indigenous migration: Americas, distinctiveness and scale

Abstract

Abstract The 21st century has been named the “age of migration” (Castles & Miller 2003), and indigenous migration is a growing feature of the movements of people today. Like migration routes, the causes of migration are always multiple, and for that reason different aspects of indigenous migration have to be seen in concert rather than as distinct types or categories. First, indigenous migrations have a long history. Second, different kinds of forced and voluntary displacements of indigenous people take on greater importance as present‐day nation states emphasize their international boundaries and citizenship within them. Third, nongovernment forces are playing an increasingly important role in indigenous migration, especially drug cartels, youth gangs, and even religious ideology. Changing economic opportunity structures in Latin America are also a key factor within indigenous migration. The pull of opportunities where economies are strong, as well as the push from economies or societies that are no longer viable, affect migration patterns as well as individual decisions.