Native Research Articles

Twice marginalised: the status of Marma language and identity in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT In this paper, we tried to understand the status of the Marma language and identity in Bangladesh. Being an Indigenous community in a country where Bengalis form a numerous as well as political majority, the Marmas in Bangladesh experience cultural and linguistic marginalisation. An added dimension of hegemony comes from the Chakmas who, arguably, are the most prominent Indigenous community in Bangladesh with an active political history. Given the multiple layers of marginalisation, we examined how the Marmas in Bangladesh negotiate their language and identity. Using an ethnographic approach through interviews and focus group discussions, we collected data from 14 Marma community members from Rangamati, Bangladesh. A thematic analysis confirmed the double marginalisation of the Marmas in Bangladesh. The findings also showed a shift in language use primarily driven by socio-economic concerns and an intergenerational negotiation of identity among the community members.

An assessment of plant growth and physiological responses in annual crops grown in P deficient soils inoculated with indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on the growth and physiology of Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Zea mays L. in the Brazilian tropical seasonal dry forest is not well known. We examined the effects of indigenous AMF species inoculation on these two annual crops at phosphorus-deficient soils under glasshouse conditions. The AMF species used as inoculum were collected from the root zone of Mimosa tenuiflora, a native plant of the Caatinga ecoregion. The inoculum was propagated in plastic pots with Trifolium sp. as the host plant. We investigated the effect of four treatments: (1) Control- non-inoculated; (2) Acaulospora inoculum- inoculation with A. tuberculata; (3) Gigaspora inoculum- inoculation with G. gigantea; and (4) Mixed inoculum- inoculation with both Acaulospora and Gigaspora species. We found that inoculation with the indigenous AMF community enhanced plant dry biomass, plant P concentration, root colonization, and physiological responses for both model plants. This study highlighted the importance of exploring the P molecule as an integral element in plant development and presents the AMF inoculation as an efficient alternative to overcome low-P conditions, leading to improved nutrient acquisition in low-fertility soils, better growth conditions through enhanced physiological responses, and ultimately increased plant dry biomass.

Systemic inequities and sources of resilience: challenges faced by Indigenous women living with HIV during COVID-19 in the Canadian prairies

ABSTRACT This study explored the challenges faced by, and resilience of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women living with HIV in Manitoba and Saskatchewan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a decolonizing, community-based research approach, guided by a Community Guiding Circle (CGC), interviews were conducted with 45 Indigenous women living with HIV. Participants were recruited via community outreach, peer networks, and social media. Data collection and analysis utilized Indigenous storywork and inductive thematic analysis. The study revealed significant barriers related to housing instability, childcare, and access to healthcare, all exacerbated by systemic inequities rooted in colonialism, patriarchy, and capitalism. Despite these challenges, Indigenous cultural practices, ceremonies, community support, and family ties emerged as crucial sources of resilience, though often disrupted during the pandemic. The findings underscore the urgent need for culturally safe, women-centered care models that integrate Indigenous knowledge and practices. For health and social care practitioners, this research emphasizes the importance of advocating for systemic change to address the unique needs of Indigenous women living with HIV and calls for the development and implementation of culturally safe health and social care tailored to their unique needs and resilience.

Signatures of natural selection may indicate a genetic basis for the beneficial effects of oily fish intake in indigenous people from coastal Ecuador.

Atahualpa is a rural village located in coastal Ecuador, a region that has been inhabited by people as early as 10,000 years ago. The traditional diet of their indigenous inhabitants is rich in oily fish and they have, therefore, served as a model for investigating the beneficial effects of such a diet. However, the genetic background of this population has not been studied. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of Atahualpa residents to look for variants under natural selection, which could mediate the effects of oily fish intake. DNA was extracted from 50 blood samples from randomly selected individuals recruited in the Atahualpa Project Cohort. After applying various filters, we calculated genome-wide genotype likelihoods from 33 samples, and combined data from those samples with data from other populations to investigate how the Atahualpa population is genetically related to these populations. Using selection scans, we identified signals of natural selection that may explain the above-mentioned dietary effects. The genetic ancestry in Atahualpa residents is 94.1% of indigenous American origin, but is substantially diverged from other indigenous populations in neighboring countries. Significant signatures of natural selection were found in the Atahualpa population, including a broad selection signal around the SUFU gene, which is a repressor of Hedgehog pathway signaling and associated with lipid metabolism, and another signal in the upstream region of LRP1B which encodes low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor related protein 1B. Our selection study reveals genes under selection in the Atahualpa population, which could mediate the beneficial effects of oily fish intake in this population.

Linguistic Survivance in Tanya Tagaq’s Split Tooth

ABSTRACT Currently, there are very few literary publications on Tanya Tagaq’s Split Tooth 1 , and the few that exist attribute it to magical realism which is not an Indigenous genre. Additionally, few literary scholars use linguistics to analyse internal speech in fictionalised memoirs. In this paper, I approach Split Tooth as a form of wonderworks, using the theory of linguistic relativity to analyse how the narrator’s emergence into her heritage language, Inuktitut, affects her ontology and provides a path to survivance. The narrator in Split Tooth represents the collective perspectives of abused young Indigenous people who use the powerful wonders of their natural surroundings to make sense of and protect the whole of Nuna (the land in relation to its inhabitants) from the horrors of settler-colonialism. Without the collectivist ontology of the Inuktitut language, the narrator does not survive the horrors of settler-colonialism, but with Inuktitut she is able to represent the resilience of an entire culture.

Ethnobiological survey on medicinal plants used by gaddi and gujjar tribes of riparian region of Beas River of Himachal Pradesh in North Western Himalayas, India

Himachal Pradesh is one of the most species-rich regions in the world and a key center for the origin and diversity of numerous plant species. Ethnobotanical research is essential for exploring these diverse biological resources for medicinal uses. This study aimed to record the traditional knowledge of the tribal communities in Himachal Pradesh concerning the use of medicinal plants for treating diseases in humans and livestock. Despite this richness, there is a lack of detailed documentation about the use of therapeutic plants in this area. The indigenous communities in this region rely on traditional knowledge of medicinal plants, making it a valuable resource for further pharmacological and phytochemical research. The ethnobotanical surveys were conducted from August 2022 to July 2023, and our fieldwork took place in four districts (Kullu (1279 m), Mandi (760 m), Hamirpur (780 m) and Kangra (1200–1300 m) under various villages. The ethnobiological data was gathered through field surveys, open interviews, discussions, and semi-structured questionnaires conducted with 193 tribal participants aged 40 to 80 years. Informants were chosen using the randomized household interview and snowball sampling methods. The study documented 64 plants from 39 families, among which 58 species are angiosperms, 5 species are pteridophytes and one species is bryophyte utilized for therapeutic purposes. Rosaceae, Lamiaceae, and Ranunculaceae were the most used medicinal herb families. Rubus ellipticus (0.75) and Trillium govanianum (0.74) demonstrated the highest UV (Use value) values. The ICF (Informant Consensus factor) value revealed that nervous system disorders-related ailments were the most treated. This study explored the ethnobiological information of therapeutic flora from riparian vegetation within tribal communities while also assessing the present state of research and the practical application of their medicinal information. It underscores the potential for additional research to delve deeper into the indigenous properties of their therapeutic floras and emphasizes the importance of preserving their traditional medicinal wisdom.

“You’re telling us to go first?!” COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination experiences among Aboriginal adults in Western Australia

Globally, Indigenous populations have been disproportionately impacted by pandemics. In Australia, though national infection rates with COVID-19 infections in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people were lower in the first 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was soon a greater burden in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Island people once Omicron was circulating. Uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine was also lower among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. It was imperative to understand the stories of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in WA about their experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine rollout. Between September 2022 and October 2023, we conducted five face-to-face yarning workshops with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in Noongar Whadjuk Boodja (Perth metropolitan region, Western Australia). Yarns discussed COVID-19 experiences, knowledge and attitudes about COVID-19 and vaccination, reasons for or against COVID-19 vaccination, trusted sources of information, and knowledge of COVID-19 vaccination programmes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Data was thematically analysed in an inductive manner on NVivo, followed by a data interpretation forum with study investigators and community members. Across the five yarning workshops, we heard the stories and experiences of 38 Aborginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Many described the negative impact that the policies implemented to control COVID-19 had on their ability to connect with their community and practice traditional culture. Very few participants trusted government and any government information due to both historical and contemporary factors. This led participants to be wary of the fact they were among the first to be prioritised for COVID-19 vaccination in Australia. Though most participants (92%) had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine, there were high levels of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. The main reason for this was due to COVID-19 vaccine mandates; participants were, in essence, coerced acceptors of what they felt to be an unsafe vaccine that provided little protection against a mild disease. Our yarns identified high levels of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and circulation of misinformation amongst Perth-based Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Our findings also demonstrate that there were many unintended consequences of COVID-19 policies on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and culture. Future pandemic policies and vaccine programmes must consider the impact on not only the health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people but also the impact on community and culture.

Detection and selection of dye-degrading bacteria from surface waters with different degrees of contamination

ABSTRACT Biodegradability and resistance from indigenous bacterial communities to dyes were tested using samples from both polluted and unpolluted surface waters in Buenos Aires. Five dyes were selected for the study: Acid Black 210, Direct Orange 39, Malachite Green, Gentian Violet, and Alizarin Red. Water quality was assessed by measuring chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, and both Escherichia coli and enterococci counts. Biodegradability was tested using a respirometric method, while resistance was assessed by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). No bacterial strains capable of degrading the dyes as the sole carbon source were isolated from the respirometric tests. However, from the MIC tests, 28 strains capable of dye discolouration were identified, using nutrient broth as a supplement. Two of them were able to degrade Malachite Green and Acid Black 210 at a concentration of 50 mg L−1 in less than 24 h and with an efficiency greater than 87%. These strains were identified as Aeromonas sp. and Shewanella sp. through MALDI-TOF/MS and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The determination of biodegradability and resistance can be used to enhance the characterization of watercourses. Furthermore, this methodology provides a means to isolate biodegrading bacteria that could be applied in effluent treatment processes.

Alternative Dispute Resolution for Customary Land Through Customary Courts

The recognition of the customary rights of indigenous peoples is enshrined in the Basic Agrarian Law, specifically in Article 3 of the UUPA, which mandates that the implementation of these rights must align with national interests and not conflict with higher laws. Customary rights are respected as living law within indigenous communities, provided they do not contradict the spirit of national law. Although customary courts are not explicitly mentioned in formal judicial regulations, they remain acknowledged and respected, with their decisions influencing formal courts, particularly in disputes related to customary law. This research aims to analyze the role of customary courts in resolving land disputes within indigenous communities, particularly when decisions from these courts are challenged in formal courts. This doctrinal research uses a literature study to collect legal materials, which are then analyzed qualitatively. The findings reveal that formal courts often fail to consider absentee land ownership, as regulated in the legislation, leading to errors in determining land ownership entitlement. In one case, the legal justification provided by the judge overlooked a testimonial de audit submitted by one of the parties, ultimately dismissing its validity. The implications of this study suggest that there is a need for better integration of customary legal principles into the formal justice system to ensure the protection of indigenous land rights. It also highlights the importance of clear legal frameworks to address conflicts between customary law and national regulations, particularly in land ownership disputes.

Toward a Scientific Understanding of Queer, Trans, and Two‐Spirit (QT2S) Native Youth Mental Health Disparities

ABSTRACTQueer, trans, and Two‐Spirit native youth experience exponential increases in risk for health disparities, yet little is known about their distinct mental health needs. There remains a dearth of literature examining the unique intersection of Indigeneity, gender and sexuality, and age. As Indigenous populations in the United States have grown in the past decade, it is imperative to develop a comprehensive understanding of QT2S native youth mental health. The present work seeks to bridge the fields of scholarship on native youth and LGBTQ communities' mental health disparities to illuminate gaps in scientific understanding of QT2S native youth mental health. The current paper will discuss theoretical frameworks, methodological considerations, and mental health disparities scholarship on QT2S youth, concluding with research recommendations toward developing a scientific understanding of QT2S native youth mental health disparities.

Untapping the potential of Indigenous water jurisdiction: perspectives from Whanganui and Aotearoa New Zealand

Indigenous peoples have maintained sustainable, longstanding relationships with water and have valuable knowledge to contribute to water management. Still, legal and policy frameworks routinely include only tokenistic acknowledgements of Indigenous water ‘values’, while ongoing injustices related to the allocation and governance of water resources remain unresolved. Those concerned about the recognition of Indigenous water rights and relationships often point to the case of Aotearoa New Zealand, and specifically the Treaty of Waitangi settlement legislation recognising the Whanganui River as a ‘legal person’, as a replicable model for improved water governance and Indigenous water rights. In this article we use a sociolegal method to draw out globally relevant lessons from the groundbreaking Whanganui River model about the potential for Western or settler-state law to support and uphold Indigenous rights and relationships in water. Our analysis confirms that enabling Indigenous water jurisdiction could hold the key to more sustainable and equitable futures, but it requires a long-term commitment from states and local communities to relationship brokering, power sharing, and trust building with Indigenous peoples.

Экологические тропы: международный опыт создания и перспективы развития

The article focuses on the design and development of ecological trails, examining their significance for sustainable tourism, environmental protection, and the enhancement of ecological awareness. It emphasizes the analysis of international experiences in creating ecological trails, highlighting their ecological benefits, accessibility for visitors, and educational aspects.An overview of key design methodologies is provided, which includes the use of local materials, comprehensive development, and the incorporation of educational elements. The article also discusses examples of successful trails from various countries such as New Zealand, Sweden, Canada, and Australia, where the focus is on biodiversity conservation and minimizing environmental impact.Furthermore, the article underscores the importance of involving local populations and indigenous peoples in the process of developing and maintaining ecological trails. It also discusses future directions in design, including the integration of modern technologies and adaptive management.

Powerful Stories: Indigenous and Refugee Histories of Dispossession and Displacement in Settler Colonies

ABSTRACT This paper illuminates the role of Indigenous and refugee autobiographies in serving as a radical critique of the settler colonial state. We examine the origins of self-writing in the creation of the nations of the United States and Australia before undertaking a closer examination of the proliferation of memoirs in late twentieth century and early twenty first century Australia. By tracing the powerful stories told by the dispossessed and displaced, we show how forced movements of Indigenous and refugee people are interlinked and foundational to the making of the settler colony. By centering their voices, we demonstrate that forced migrations have often been generative of new forms of self-expression, including non-textual forms such as film and poetry. The paper argues that reading the histories of settler colonial nations through these self-expressions is vital in radically revising national historical narratives that continue to privilege ideas of terra nullius, stories of ‘free’ migration, and the ‘othering’ of refugees as a contemporary ‘problem’ that is historically unprecedented.

Ngā manu taketake o te ao (Indigenous birds of the world): a scoping review of research focusing on Indigenous speech-language therapy for Indigenous children, using Indigenous methodologies

For Indigenous children with speech, language and communication needs, providing speech-language therapy within their worldview is of vital importance. This scoping review identified speech-language therapy research undertaken internationally in the past 20 years using Indigenous methodologies. This is part of a research project conducted by tribal researchers from Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki Trust, the mandated tribal organization located in the Eastern region of New Zealand’s North Island. The review critically appraised 31 articles and theses using the CONSoliDated critERia (CONSIDER) for strengthening reporting of health research involving Indigenous peoples, to evaluate the quality of research practices in studies involving Indigenous peoples. The review revealed small pockets of speech-language therapy research for children from Indigenous communities around the English-speaking world, but insufficient research to form a robust evidence base to meet the rights of any group of Indigenous peoples, as expressed in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Subsistence hunting impacts wildlife assemblages and functional ecology in tropical forests

Unsustainable wild meat hunting poses a significant threat to wildlife and tropical forest ecosystems. While high levels of extraction linked to commercial trade have received significant attention, the sustainability of subsistence hunting by Indigenous Peoples in Africa has been less studied. Understanding how changing lifestyles, particularly the sedentarisation of former hunter-gatherers, have affected the use of forest resources is crucial for wildlife conservation and livelihoods. The spatial management of hunting through the establishment of no-take zones, which act as sources for adjacent hunting areas, offers promise for the sustainability of Indigenous livelihoods. We conducted an extensive camera trap study in hunting areas subject to source-sink dynamics used by 10 sedentarised Baka communities. We compared species richness, occupancy, abundance, and community composition to a relatively non-hunted reference area in the adjacent Dja Faunal Reserve. Subsistence hunting by the Baka had a limited impact on species richness but significantly altered community composition and the abundance of carnivores, seed dispersers and granivores. These changes highlight that even the spatial management of hunting may have consequences for the sustainability of hunting systems and the functional ecology of tropical forests.

“You can’t cram for this kind of education”: Centering indigenous elder pedagogy to reclaim respectful and socially just education

ABSTRACT Drawing from our experience engaging Yakama culturally sustaining education, we describe and discuss how Indigenous peoples in settler colonial societies are organizing and thriving to counter ongoing political volatility and assimilation efforts that destroy our languages and relationships at Yakama and within Indigenous communities around the world. We examine the importance of Indigenous storywork, Elder pedagogy and praxis, and honoring Indigenous cultural teachings in education. We propose that returning to Indigenous-centered multigenerational learning models is inherently anticolonial and can help infuse teachings on academic and life topics with a greater depth for learners.

Effects of socioeconomic and human-modified landscape variables on medicinal species richness at a macroscale: the case of the Caatinga, Brazil

BackgroundEthnobiological studies at local scales have shown that knowledge of medicinal species tends to decrease as socioeconomic status and the extent of human-modified landscapes increase. However, it remains largely unknown whether these same factors can predict knowledge of useful species at broader scales and whether their interaction might create scenarios that enhance knowledge of medicinal species.MethodsTo address this, we tested whether knowledge of woody medicinal species—measured as the number of species known—is influenced by socioeconomic status, human-modified landscapes, and their interaction. We compiled and curated data on woody medicinal species from a systematic review encompassing diverse communities across the Caatinga region in North-east Brazil. Using the locations of these communities, we extracted data on socioeconomic status (measured by the Human Development Index, HDI) and human-modified landscapes (quantified as the percentage of forest loss).ResultsOur results indicate that forest loss reduces the knowledge of medicinal woody species among Indigenous People and Local Communities. The interaction between human-modified landscapes and socioeconomic status revealed a significant nonlinear relationship, with different combinations yielding varying levels of knowledge about woody medicinal species. Interestingly, socioeconomic status alone does not appear to influence this knowledge. These findings underscore that the processes shaping knowledge of medicinal species differ across scales and suggest the existence of yet unidentified emergent properties that influence medicinal species knowledge at broader scales.ConclusionThe conversion of habitats for anthropogenic use poses a significant risk to the well-being of these populations, as it reduces the availability of species used for prophylactic purposes. In contrast, the cultural traditions of Indigenous People and Local Communities, along with the implementation of regional public policies, may explain why socioeconomic status does not affect local knowledge. Moreover, our study highlights that the processes influencing knowledge of medicinal species at broader scales are not simply the aggregation of local-scale observations. Finally, we propose strategies to advance the field of macroethnobiology.

Managing the “Hypersexual and “Primitive” Sexual Instinct

Highlighting the “difference” or “aberration” of indigenous communities was central to the construction of their “uncivilized” status in British colonial India. Existing scholarship on indigeneity in modern South Asia has highlighted how elite opinion, whether it be colonial or Indian, emphasized the “strangeness” of the lifestyles of the indigenous communities. Scholarship on gender, sexuality, and indigeneity has noted how any sexual or marital practice that deviated from the norms of upper-caste Hindu heteronormative patriarchy was deemed “uncivilized,” reinforcing the “savagery” of the indigenous. In this article, I deconstruct the process of the sexual pathologization of indigenous communities in colonial India and argue that the field of sexology played a seminal role in this process as it endowed it with a sense of scientific objectivity and legitimacy. I demonstrate how the British sexologist Havelock Ellis focused on the alleged hypersexuality and seasonal nature of the sexual response among specific indigenous communities, namely the Andamanese and the Hos, in his monumental work, Studies in the Psychology of Sex. I also show that such a pathologized view of indigenous sexuality was not only the mainstay of colonial sexology but also informed the work of elite Indian sexologists such as A. P. Pillay, as well as the writings of the anthropologist Verrier Elwin. Thus, the specter of sexually aberrant indigeneity first cast by colonial sexology left a lasting legacy in the sexological and anthropological history of modern India.

Preliminary results from a community-based ayahuasca-assisted mental health program among a Yaqui Indigenous population in Sonora, Mexico

AbstractBackgroundThe Yaqui Intercultural Medicine Clinic was established in 2020 to provide accessible, culturally-attuned treatment for substance use and mental health disorders among an Indigenous Yaqui community in Mexico. The treatment program integrates ayahuasca ceremonies and psychotherapeutic support within a community-based outpatient treatment service. This observational pilot study was conducted to evaluate the safety, short-term symptom improvement, and cultural implications of the clinic's program.MethodsData from 37 patients who were diagnosed with depression, anxiety, complicated grief, or substance use disorder were included in the analysis. Patients were included in the study if they participated in at least one ayahuasca session with psychotherapeutic support. Data were collected using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Index for Complicated Grief (ICG), and the Post-Traumatic Stress Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5).ResultsPatients demonstrated marked reductions in scores of depression, anxiety, complicated grief, suicidality, and PTSD symptoms following ayahuasca ceremonies. After two ceremonies, mean BDI-II scores dropped from 15.7 to 5.1, mean BAI scores dropped from 16.6 to 6.3, and ICG scores reduced from 39.6 to 10.7. Among eight patients presenting suicide risk, seven cases resolved following a single ayahuasca ceremony. Safety assessment indicated that ayahuasca ceremonies were well-tolerated.ConclusionsPreliminary data suggest that ayahuasca ceremonies integrated within a culturally-attuned community-based mental health program show promise for rapidly reducing mental health symptoms among a small group of Yaqui patients. These findings support further research of community-based ayahuasca-assisted therapeutic programs for mental health treatment within Indigenous communities.

Rethinking Indigenous Community-Led Water Sustainability: Decolonial and Relational Approaches in Western Canada

This study examines Indigenous community-led water sustainability in Western Canada through relational and decolonial lenses, addressing the interplay between traditional knowledge, environmental governance, and cultural identity. The relational and decolonial frameworks emphasize water as a living entity integral to environmental sustainability and community well-being, contrasting with extractive Western models that prioritize economic gains. Using a community-led collaborative methodology, the research engaged Elders, Knowledge-keepers, and youth in discussions and land-based activities, reinforcing intergenerational knowledge transfer. The findings showcase critical challenges to Indigenous water governance, including industrial encroachments, climate change, and colonial environmental management systems that marginalize Indigenous perspectives. These human-created challenges threaten Indigenous water quality and disrupt Indigenous sustainable governance, underlining the need for alternative, adaptive frameworks. Despite these challenges, Indigenous communities are reclaiming water sustainability through initiatives that implement traditional knowledge, cultural revitalization, and collaborative governance models. Such efforts emphasize respect, reciprocity, and stewardship, promoting long-term environmental sustainability.