International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

Ethics of the Ethnics: What Tribals can Teach the World

The various theories and beliefs about the "Origin of the Earth," which estimate its age to be around 4.5 billion years, agree that humans originated from nature. This means that human existence is deeply connected to nature. Communities that have always remembered this fact and stayed closely tied to nature for their survival and growth are called indigenous people. The word "indigenous" represents more than 370 million people across over 70 countries, with about 8% of India’s population belonging to these communities. As society, science, education, and technology advanced, humans became modern. However, during this progress, people faced a dilemma: if they did not adopt modernization, they would be left behind, but embracing it meant sacrificing nature. In this era of modernity, very few communities managed to stay connected to nature while still sustaining themselves and their societies through it. This does not mean these communities did not develop. Instead, they saw development as something that should go hand-in-hand with nature. Whenever they had to choose between nature and modern development, they chose nature. Their progress can be seen in their traditions, languages, and way of life, proving that they have developed while staying true to their connection with nature. This reminds us that we have much to learn from these people and communities who, although considered "left behind" in modernization, hold valuable lessons about living in harmony with nature.