An Ethnic Minority or Indigenous Tribe is a group of people who differ in race, religion, or cultural origin from the majority population of the country in which they live. Each group has its own habits and customs. They are usually isolated in remote geographical areas and often face limited access to health care, education and other public services.
Visiting ethnic minorities or indigenous tribes can be a unique experience. If you want to meet minority cultures, you will often have to get away from popular tourist centres.
Naxi Minority
China’s Yunnan Province is widely known for its diversity and multiplicity of communities. Among the country’s 56 recognised ethnic groups, 25 are found in Yunnan Province.
In the northwest region, surrounded by the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the Naxi people have carved out an enclave over hundreds of years. Like the Tibetan, they are thought to be descendants of the ancient nomadic Qiang tribe.
Naxi’s ancestors migrated south towards Tibet and had begun settling in modern-day Baisha and Lijiang Ancient Towns. From there they have separated into three groups; those who remained in Baisha and Lijiang were known as the Naxi; those who went to Dali became the Bai group; and those who moved to the region around Lugu Lake became the Mosuo people.
Hmong Minority
The Hmong are one of the largest hill tribes in the Mekong region, spread through much of northern Laos, northern Vietnam, Thailand and Yunnan. As some of the last to arrive in the region, they were left with the highest and harshest lands from which to eke out their existence. They soon made the best of a bad deal and opted for opium cultivation, which brought them into conflict with mainstream governments.
Hmong groups are usually classified by their colourful clothing, including Black Hmong, White Hmong, Red Hmong and others. The brightest group is the Flower Hmong of northwest Vietnam, living in villages around Bac Ha. The Hmong are known for their embroidered indigo-dyed clothing and their ornate silver jewellery.
Quechua Group
The Quechua people are a series of indigenous tribes that live in the Andean mountains of South America. They are said to be direct descendants of the ancient Inca people. The Incan Empire itself stretched from parts of present-day Colombia southward through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and into northern Chile. Their modern-day Quechua descendants still reside in Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia.
The members of the Quechua tribes have a rich culture, full of traditions. They are known for their colourful textiles. Their music is an interesting combination of singing and sounds from traditional flutes. Although most Quechua people have adopted Catholicism since colonial times, they practice a combination of ancient tribal rites and Catholic celebrations.
Guna Group
The Guna are an indigenous people of Panama and Colombia. Most Gunas live on small islands off the coast of the Comarca of Guna Yala known as the San Blas Islands in Panama.
The Guna are famous for their bright molas, a colourful textile art form made with the techniques of applique. Mola panels are used to make the blouses of the Guna women’s national dress, which is worn daily by many Guna women.
The traditional Guna belief structure is based on three principal concepts: God, nature and the cosmos. The Guna identify strongly with nature, and their rich oral traditions are full of songs, hymns and prayers that recount the beauty and majesty of the wind, the land and the sea. The Guna love and admire nature, and they believe that true happiness is only experienced within its presence.
Maasai Group
The Maasai are an indigenous ethnic group in Africa of semi-nomadic people settled in Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are among the best known local populations internationally due to their residence near the many game parks of the African Great Lakes, and their distinctive customs and dress.
They are usually defined by their colourful clothes, which varies by sex, age and place. Most done a piece of clothing called Shuka, a combination of red, blue, and green checked and striped cloths. A big number also have baldheads, and sometimes a spear in their hands for the men.
In Maasai culture, it is a woman’s job to build the house, cook and raise the kids. Maasai men are primarily warriors. They protect their tribe, their cattle and their grazing lands.
