“Are you (or could you be) indigenous?": A perspective from Europe

Except for the Sámi, there are no recognised Indigenous peoples in Europe. The case for recognising other groups is hampered by the association of vocabulary with historical abuse and contemporary ideological appropriation through populist movements. Key tropes relating heritage to descent and land (“blood and soil”), shared across the political spectrum, arouse controversy. In Europe and beyond, we need to develop a critical praxis of place-based relationships, to revitalise indigenous knowledges in culturally relevant and inclusive ways.