The term "Indigenous Peoples" refers to several socioeconomic and cultural groups that have shared

ancestral links to the lands and natural resources that they currently reside on or have been displaced
from. The land and natural resources they rely on are integral to their identities, cultures, ways of life,
and overall bodily and spiritual health. They frequently follow their traditional leaders and groups for
representation, which are different or distinct from those of the majority community or culture.
However, many Indigenous Peoples have also lost their languages or are on the edge of extinction as a
result of being evicted from their lands and/or moved to other territories. Many Indigenous Peoples still
speak a language that is distinct from the official language or languages of the nation or region in which
they live. They speak more than 4,000 of the 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, but according to some
estimates, more than half of those languages may be gone by the year 2100.

Indigenous Peoples are thought to number 476 million worldwide. They represent around 19% of the
extremely poor, although making up only 6% of the world's population. The average life expectancy of
indigenous peoples is up to 20 years less than that of non-indigenous peoples globally. Indigenous
Peoples frequently face numerous obstacles to fully participate in the formal economy, have access to
justice, and participate in political processes and decision-making. They frequently do not have formal
recognition over their lands, territories, and natural resources, are frequently the last to receive public
investments in basic services and infrastructure, and often receive public investments after other groups.