Indigenous group in Thailand

In Thailand, the population is mainly made up of Thais and a small number of Chinese, Malays and other minority group of the indigenous people living in the hills of provinces as tribes. The indigenous people in Thailand have been denied citizenship right and regarded as illegal aliens in the country. They have been denial of basic political rights, rights to own a land, rights to freedom of movement, rights to education and access to welfare services. Therefore, understanding the indigenous people may help them more earn their rights and contribute to the country.

There are mainly nine indigenous groups. They are Lahu, H’mong, Wa, Karen, Akha, Lisu, Palung, Mien and Shan. These are the main tribal groups of indigenous people. 40 over ethnic group are sub groups of these nine main groups. These people settled mainly in the northern and western regions of the country, covering 20 provinces. These indigenous and tribal people do not have access and rights in the country without the citizenship. The only way to survive through each day is to farm. Each different tribal group have different ways of farming and different languages even though some were of the same main indigenous groups.