In both rich and poor countries, native or indigenous people are generally the least powerful, most neglected groups in the world. Typically descendants of the original inhabitants of an area taken over by more powerful outsiders, they are distinct from their country's dominant language, culture, religion and racial communities. Of the world's nearly 6000 recognised cultures, 5000 are indigenous ones that account for only about 10 percent of the total world population.

In many countries, traditional caste systems, discriminatory laws, economics or prejudice repress indigenous people. Their unique cultures are disappearing, along with biological diversity, as natural habitats are destroyed to satisfy industrialised-world appetites for resources. Traditional ways of life are disrupted further by dominant Western culture sweeping around the globe.

At least half of the world's 6000 distinct languages are dying because they are no longer taught to children. When the last few elders who still speak the language die, so will the culture that was its origin. Lost with those cultures will be a rich repertoire of knowledge about nature and a keen understanding of a particular environment and way of life.

Interestingly, just 12 countries account for 60 percent of all human languages. Seven of these are also among the mega-diversity countries that contain more than half of all unique plant and animal species. Conditions that support the evolution of many unique species seem to favour the development of equally diverse human cultures as well.