Indigenous Peoples (also known as Indigenous People, People, Indigenous): Descendants who self-identify as members of a group who inhabited a country or region at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived. They often maintain their distinct language, culture, and beliefs.

NIH MeSH · D000081034Named Groups

Indigenous Peoples

Also known asIndigenous People · People, Indigenous · Peoples, Indigenous · Native Peoples · Native People · People, Native · Peoples, Native · First Nation Peoples · First Nation People · Nation People, First · Nation Peoples, First · People, First Nation

Definition

Descendants who self-identify as members of a group who inhabited a country or region at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived. They often maintain their distinct language, culture, and beliefs.

MeSH classification

  • M01.270.968

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Common questions about Indigenous Peoples

What does Indigenous Peoples mean in medicine?
Descendants who self-identify as members of a group who inhabited a country or region at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived. They often maintain their distinct language, culture, and beliefs. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Indigenous Peoples known by any other names?
Yes. Indigenous Peoples is also referred to as Indigenous People, People, Indigenous, Peoples, Indigenous, Native Peoples in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Indigenous Peoples sit in the medical classification?
Indigenous Peoples falls under the broader medical category "Named Groups" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: M01.270.968). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Indigenous Peoples?
For a plain-language explanation of Indigenous Peoples - including symptoms, treatments and what it means for an Indian patient - ask GoDavaii's Health AI. It works in 22+ Indian languages, is free and needs no signup. Tap "Ask GoDavaii AI about Indigenous Peoples" above.

Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D000081034) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗