Comprehension
In both rich and poor countries, native or indigenous people are generally the least powerful, most neglected groups in the world. Typically descendants of the original inhabitants of an area taken over by more powerful outsiders, they are distinct from their country's dominant language, culture, religion, and racial communities. Of the world's nearly 6,000 recognized cultures, 5,000 are indigenous ones that account for only about 10 percent of the total world population.
In many countries, traditional caste systems, discriminatory laws, economics, or prejudice repress indigenous people. Their unique cultures are disappearing, along with biological diversity as natural habitats are destroyed to satisfy industrialized world appetites for resources. Traditional ways of life are disrupted further by dominant Western culture sweeping around the globe.
At least half of the world's 6,000 distinct languages are dying because they are no longer taught to children. When the last few elders who still speak the language die, so will the culture that was its origin. Lost with those cultures will be a rich repertoire of knowledge about nature and a keen understanding of a particular environment and way of life.
Interestingly, just 12 countries account for 60 percent of all human languages. seven of these are also among the "mega diversity" countries that contain more than half of all unique plant and animal species. Conditions that support evolution of many unique species seem to favour development of equally diverse human cultures as well.
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