Indigenous communities
Definition
Indigenous communities refer to groups of people who are native to a specific region or land, having inhabited it for generations before the arrival of settlers or colonizers. These communities have their own distinct cultures, traditions, and ways of life.
Analogy
Imagine you have your own secret clubhouse with unique rules and games that you and your friends created. One day, new kids move into the neighborhood and try to change everything about your clubhouse. They want you to follow their rules and play their games instead. That's what happened to indigenous communities when European explorers arrived - outsiders tried to impose their ways on them.
Related terms
Colonialism: The practice where one country extends its control over another territory outside its borders through political, economic, or military means.
Assimilation: The process by which individuals or groups adopt the culture and customs of another group.
Cultural genocide: The deliberate destruction of a culture through policies aimed at erasing its language, traditions, beliefs, and practices.
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