Cambodia's Indigenous peoples

 

Indigenous women in Ratanakiri (Credited to Lay Kimhui)

The indigenous peoples have apparently part of a migration of groups of people throughout the region many centuries ago. They have their own cultures, unique traditions, customs, and have different living styles from other ethnic in the world.  According to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, there are an estimated 370 million indigenous people living in the Member States of the United Nations, including Cambodia

Indigenous areas (By ODC)

Cambodia is a country on the Indochinese mainland which is located in Southeast Asia. Cambodia is an ancient and multi-ethnic country as well with Khmer, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cham, and indigenous groups. Cambodia has 16 million people with Khmer making up 90 % and 1.25% being indigenous peoples. Cambodia is the most attractive motherland because there are more ethnic groups, so it makes this country provide special customs in the region. Indigenous peoples are the politically and socially dominant Khmers are classified as “indigenous ethnic” or “Indigenous community” And the indigenous groups are considered as Khmer Lue (“Highlander Khmers). The indigenous peoples are the smallest tribe compared to its neighbors in Southeast Asia. 

Jarai indigenous celebrated the IP's Day at Borkham Commune (By Fang Champey)

Demographic 

Following the report on IPs Demographic and Socio-Economic, Cambodia has 22 different groups, accounting for a total of 179,193 populations, or approximately 1.34 percent of the total population in 2008, and 183,831 populations, or about 1.25 percent of the total population in 2013 (annual growth rate is 0.51 percent). There are twenty-two indigenous groups such as Bunong, Tampuon, Kui, Jarai, Krueng, Brao, Stieng, Kavet, Kraol, Cha ong, Paor, Mil, Lmun, Sui, Khonh, Klueng, Saouch, kachrouk, Lun, Rade, Mon and Kachok. The indigenous group lives in fifteen provinces in Cambodia. The highest population of indigenous groups are living in four areas such as Ratanakiri, Stung Treng, Mondulkiri, Preah Vihea.

Elder indigenous Krueng in the remote village (Lay Kim Hui)

Their languages

Currently indigenous peoples having their own languages and they speak their language to communicate for daily life, but Khmer is a second language for Indigenous communities because easily to make connection with another ethnics and using for any work, study and their businesses.  However, some of indigenous groups are having challenges to lose their native language because there were many reasons through Khmer Rough genocide, this regime was bad for some indigenous group as well as Por, Stieng and Kui, they were arrested and killed by Khmer Rough unconditionally.  Another hand, some young generation afraid to show or speak up their own languages and another reasons.