ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the world heritage framework as it relates to Indigenous peoples. Indigenous peoples, approximately 370 million of whom live in numerous states globally, have inherited, and are practitioners of, unique cultures and traditions and ways of relating to the natural world. These peoples were subjugated through conquest, occupation and settlement and their traditions, practices and cultures have been suppressed by states but they have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that differ from those of the dominant or majority societies in which they live. Indigenous peoples have inherited, and are practitioners of, unique cultures and traditions and ways of relating to people and the environment. Indigenous expertise is the special knowledge and experience of Indigenous peoples which locates and describes relevant facts in light of their particular history, background and context and facilitates the explanation of Indigenous concepts to a non-Indigenous audience.
