According to the United Nations, two thirds of the world’s indigenous peoples live in Asia, which is home to more than 2,000 civilizations and languages. Indigenous peoples each have unique and distinctive cultures, languages, legal systems and histories. Most indigenous peoples have a strong connection to the environment and their traditional lands and territories. 

Indigenous peoples are recognized as being among the worlds most vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalized peoples. Despite having a broad knowledge of how to live sustainably, their traditional wisdom passed from generation to generation is at great risk of being lost. These are just a few examples of tribes found in Asia:

Lamani people – India

Also known as Banjara people; this tribe is comprised by nearly 40 million people. They are nomadic people that used to lived in the forest. They are a colorful tribe with their own distinctive culture, unique dress, heritage customs, worshiping ideals and language.

Naxi people – China

This is one of the 56 recognized ethnic groups in China. Some say the Naxi descended from a group known as the Qiang people who had as homeland parts of the highlands of Tibet and western parts of Sichuan and Yunna.

Red Dzao tribe – Vietnam

This tribe is one of the minority tribes in Sapa, Vietnam. They are called Red Dzao because they always use red to decorate the clothes they wear. They are the 9th largest ethnic group in Vietnam with a population of just under 500,000.

Chin tribe – Burma

Chin women are most notable for the intricate ink detail covering their faces. This custom began when an ancient king tried to make slaves of the women. The tattoos were first intended to repel incomers and then became a symbol of beauty.

Ladakhi people - India

Ladakh, meaning ‘land of the passes’, is a cold desert in the Northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The people of Ladakh have a rich folklore, some of which date back to the pre-Buddhist era.

Anglica Menchaca for BeMyGuest