The Politics of Indigenousness of Med Fisherfolk of Pakistan: Their Cultural Rights in Perspective

Abstract

Med of the coastal districts of Gwadar and Lasbela of the Balochistan province of Pakistan comprises a social class with fisherfolk from different backgrounds. They have asubordinate and mostly subaltern position within the Baloch social and cultural hierarchy, dominated by landowners, wealthy boat owners, and notables locally known as Mirs andKahodas. Overall, they are ranked among the many marginalized and underrepresentedcommunities of Pakistan while considerd arguably indigenous to the region. Their cultural rights are interrupted due to acquisition of their ancestral land territories to buildand protect developmental projects by the state agencies. It has put at risk their cultural identities and stewardship to the coastal habitat and the Arabian Sea. This article providesthe context of their land dispossession and explains their distinct affiliation to the coastal Makran and the Arabian Sea. It suggests at the end an integrated coastal policy toestablish cultural institutions raising awareness about their rich heritage, monuments, andmaritime customs, dating back thousands of years.