Across the world, there are over 100 tribes that remain “uncontacted,” with the Sentinelese being arguably the most secluded. For millennia, they have successfully repelled almost every effort from outsiders to engage with them, occasionally through forceful means.
The world took notice in 2018 when a U.S. Christian missionary illegally set foot on their territory, only to be killed by an arrow. Yet, this event is just a brief chapter in their extensive narrative.
North Sentinel Island, situated between India and Myanmar in the Indian Ocean, is home to the Sentinelese.
Roughly the size of Manhattan, the island is off-limits, with Indian regulations forbidding anyone from approaching within five nautical miles (about 9.26 kilometers). These restrictions aim to honor their age-old lifestyle and shield them from foreign ailments they aren’t equipped to combat.
Notably, to the east lies the Andaman Islands, yet there has been little to no interaction with the Sentinelese throughout known history.
The world has very limited information about their daily lives due to their profound seclusion. The 2011 Indian Census posited that a mere 15 individuals inhabit North Sentinel Island, but most estimates suggest closer to 100 residents.
From distant observations, it’s deduced that these inhabitants might be distributed across three distinct groups. Their communities consist of sizable shared huts and temporary, open-sided shelters.
An NGO named Survival International, where Grig has been an active advocate for the Sentinelese, emphasizes upholding their preference for isolation.
Throughout the 1970s, India endeavored to engage with the Sentinelese, with intentions to assimilate them. By presenting gifts and approaching them via boats, even without understanding their language, their overtures were predominantly met with rejection, often through aggressive gestures.
By the late 1990s, under pressure from Indigenous rights activists, India abandoned its ill-conceived outreach attempts. Nevertheless, the Sentinelese remain wary of foreign intrusion. Besides the 2018 incident with the missionary, they’ve exhibited strong resistance to outsiders on multiple occasions.
For instance, post the December 2014 tsunami, when the Indian National Coast dispatched a helicopter to gauge the tribe’s well-being, a lone Sentinelese attempted to fend off the aircraft with arrows. Another episode in 2006 witnessed the unfortunate death of two Indian fishermen who inadvertently landed on the island.
Their historical encounters, especially during the colonial period, provide context to their apprehensions. In the 1880s, British officer Maurice Vidal Portman led a team to North Sentinel. While the locals evaded them, the British managed to capture a few islanders, transporting them to the Andaman Islands.
Remarkably, the Sentinelese have withstood such adversities and remain resilient today. However, challenges like deforestation, climate shifts, colonization, economic intrusion, and diseases loom large for them and other uncontacted tribes.
Those keen to champion the cause of such tribes should foremost honor their privacy. Additionally, various resources can enlighten you about the diverse issues confronting these unique populations.
