Are Indigenous Communities Different?

Let me start with two major criteria:

(The Trojan Horse of Globalization, p. 356)

• Communal vs individualistic societies
• Hierarchical vs non-hierarchical societies

We could say that indigenous cultures usually have communal structures. However, you could also say that of Asian cultures and several traditional cultures as well.

First nations usually value and respect their elders. Again, we could say the same of various Asian cultures. So, what makes aboriginal cultures really different?

Perhaps for each culture, it is the combination of factors that accounts for their specificity. For example, even though aboriginal cultures may be hierarchical and communal, like other traditional cultures, their connection with nature may be what distinguishes them from, say, oriental traditions.

Here is another thought… can we actually put all “indigenous” cultures in the same category?