Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the health and well-being of society. For racialized groups, such as Indigenous Peoples, the ongoing legacy of colonialism and poor social determinants of health are critical in understanding the disproportionate impact of this global public health crisis. Indigenous Peoples reside in more than 90 countries and account for 370 million or 6.2% of the global population. They are the descendants of those who originally inhabited a country or region and practice their own unique culture and traditions. Their traditional social and economic practices differ from mainstream society to varying degrees. Given the well-documented disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples, there is potential for the COVID-19 pandemic to exacerbate existing inequities faced by Indigenous Peoples worldwide across health and well-being. A cross-national presentation of the situation in different regions of the world is provided, including North America, Central America, Africa, and Oceania. Core themes revolve around the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Indigenous Peoples and the response of governments and Indigenous communities across the globe. Finally, an overview of the book chapters by contributing authors is provided.