Indigenous peoples of Costa Rica
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 114,000 2.4% of Costa Rica's population | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Costa Rica | |
| Languages | |
| Bribri, Cabecar, Ngäbe, Maleku, Brunca, Terraba, Spanish (The Chorotega and Huetar are extinct) | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity and Native American Religions | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Indigenous peoples of the Americas |
Indigenous people of Costa Rica, or Native Costa Ricans, are the people who lived in what is now Costa Rica prior to European and African contact and the descendants of those peoples. About 114,000 indigenous people live in the country, comprising 2.4% of the total population. Indigenous Costa Ricans strive to keep their cultural traditions and languages alive.
In 1977, the government passed the Indigenous Law, which created reserves. There are a total of 24 indigenous territories located throughout Costa Rica. After only gaining the right to vote in 1994, they are still fighting for their rights, particularly regarding the government taking over their land and ignoring the articles which protect them. While indigenous people have struggled for legal recognition of their rights, Costa Rica did sign the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007.
Indigenous Costa Ricans belong to eight major ethnic groups. Some groups are:
-Bribris (the biggest one), they are located in Talamanca and Salitre.
-Cabecars, also like the Bribris, they are located in Talamanca, but also are located in Bajo Chirripó and Ujarrás.
-Ngäbes or Guaymís, they are located in Coto Brus zone, but they have presence in Sixaola.
-Chorotegas, they are located in Guanacaste province. Also their language is sadly extinct.
-Huetars, they are located in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. Also like Chorotegas, their language is extinct.
-Borucas or Bruncas, they are located in Boruca and Buenos Aires.
-Terrabas, also as Borucas, they are located in Buenos Aires (specifically in San Francisco).
-Malekus or Malecus, they are located in the Guatuso Indigenous reserve.