8 Ancient Indigenous Tribes You Should Know About

Jun 24, 2025 Khushi Kumari

Maasai (Kenya & Tanzania) Semi-nomadic cattle-herders known for vibrant red shukas and rich beadwork, preserving traditional rituals and Maasai language

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Ainu (Japan) Residing primarily on Hokkaido, officially recognized in 2008. They maintain distinct language and customs passed down for generations

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Yanomami (Brazil & Venezuela) About 35,000 strong, living in Amazon shabonos, practicing hunting, fishing, and slash-and-burn agriculture

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San (Southern Africa) Among Earth’s oldest cultures — celebrated rock artists of Botswana, Namibia, Angola, South Africa, with lineage traceable over 20,000 years

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Sámi (Northern Europe) EU’s only Indigenous people; reindeer herders occupying Arctic regions across Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, preserving unique languages

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Navajo (USA) Largest U.S. tribe (~300,000), speaking Diné Bizaad; they maintain vibrant traditions, arts, and one of the most-spoken Native North American languages

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Chukchi (Siberia, Russia) Herd reindeer and hunt sea mammals in Arctic fringes; rich in shamanistic traditions tied to the natural world

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Torres Strait Islanders (Australia) Distinct from mainland Aboriginal cultures; they uphold their heritage through fishing, storytelling, dance, and active advocacy for Indigenous rights

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