This is a special Indigenous Peoples edition of the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Peter Goffin.

And I'm Ianna Hampson.

Together we'll guide you through this exploration of Indigenous and tribal life around the world.

There are thousands of Indigenous cultures, each with their own unique history and experience.

No single person or story could ever speak for all of them, and we are not going to try.

But for all their differences, there is also a common thread.

Most Indigenous peoples have been marginalized and persecuted by colonialism, imperialism,

and the modern governments that evolved out of those systems.

In some of the most developed countries on earth, Indigenous people continue to experience lower rates of health, education, employment and housing, and higher rates of violence and discrimination.

This special edition of the Global News Podcast will confront many of those challenges.

But most of all, it will shine a spotlight on some of the Indigenous leaders and activists, artists and academics who are working for change,

while trying to preserve their culture and coexist equally alongside other communities.

We'll meet one of the Indigenous groups defending the Amazon rainforest from illegal loggers.

I've received messages directly from the illegal loggers, and also from local politicians, who have sent me messages telling me that I could be killed any minute.

But this is the work that I've got to do.

And speak to the people aiming to build Canada's largest urban reserve.

To South Africa, where the racist apartheid classification system is impacting Indigenous communities. And of course,

I'm a Dakiabi, hello relatives, my name is Chelsea, my name is Thesan, my name is Murphy.

My name is Samuel, my name is Leiaz. I'm Bunny Singhs Wolf.

We'll hear from you, our Global Podcast listeners.

Monday, 10 October, marks Indigenous People's Day in the US.

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