Indigenous People’s rights

The shared struggles and liberation of Indigenous communities in Sri Lanka and the North of Turtle Island

By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, Staff Writer According to Amnesty International, there are nearly 500 million Indigenous people around the world, comprising over 5,000 different Peoples. Indigeneity, and the struggles of Indigenous people go far beyond the shores of Turtle Island. Wanniyala-Aetto (වන්නියලැත්තෝ) are the original inhabitants of Sri Lanka. For me, as a Sri Lankan settler on the unceded territories of Turtle Island, it is often apparent how the struggles, experiences, and resilience of the Wanniyala-Aetto are intertwined with the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island.  Wanniyala-Aetto arrived in Sri Lanka around 16,000 years ago, and typically resided in the island’s various…

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