Nine tribal facts for August 9

August 8, 2011

Nine tribal facts for August 9

August 9th is the UN Day of indigenous people. To celebrate, here are 9 little-known facts from Survival International about tribal peoples:

1) There are over 100 uncontacted tribes in the world. Some live less than 100km from Machu Picchu, Peru’s biggest tourist attraction.

2) Tribal people in the Baliem valley of New Guinea probably developed agriculture long before the ancestors of Europeans.

3) The Moken ‘sea gypsies’ of the Andaman Sea have developed the unique ability to focus under water, in order to dive for food. The eyesight of Moken children is 50% more powerful than that of European children.

4) The Sentinelese tribe is thought to have lived on the Andaman Islands for about 55,000 years.

5) One in every 6 languages spoken on the planet comes from New Guinea.

6) Tribal peoples developed some of the world’s staple foods. Manioc (cassava), maize and potatoes are all the product of indigenous husbandry.

7) Hadza hunters in Tanzania use the song of an African bird to guide them to bees’ nests in baobab trees.

8) Awá women in Brazil care for orphaned baby monkeys by suckling them.

9) The language of the Bolivian Kallawaya healers, still spoken today, is believed to be the secret language of the Inca Kings.

Survival International's Director Stephen Corry, said today, 'This annual UN day is an important chance for the world to recognize tribal people and their right to survival and self-determination. Survival International has released nine unusual facts to coincide with August 9th, to help spread an understanding of, and respect for, tribal peoples and their astonishing contribution to the diversity of mankind.'

For more amazing facts, click here.

ENDS

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