ABSTRACT
The concepts of self-determination and autonomy should be specified in the context of indigenous peoples living confronting the boundaries of the modern territorial state. This chapter addresses each of these issues, but first it is necessary to consider the evolving demands of indigenous peoples on the American continent, along with the response that these demands have elicited from Latin American states. The concept of "nation" that swept the region during the nineteenth century excluded indigenous and ethnic groups from the national community, giving rise to racist, nationalist, and positivist ideologies that lacked a place for indigenous peoples—even though they often constituted a numerical majority. Calls for self-determination and autonomy are becoming more frequent in declarations of indigenous peoples' organizations in national and international forums across much of Latin America. Poverty, poor health conditions, and a lack of adequate medical care and sanitation are endemic. These problems are rooted in the unequal position of Indians in the economic structure—especially in agriculture.
