Anthropologist Manvir Singh states that the term may lack coherence, pointing to inconsistencies in which ethnic groups are called Indigenous or not, and notes several scholars who suggest that it instead acts as a relabeling of discredited and colonial ideas about "primitive" people. Singh states that some Indigenous people argue that the term and identity has resulted in pressure to appear "primordial" and "unchanging", and erases complex and modern identities.Other viewsIt is sometimes argued that all Africans are Indigenous to Africa, all Asians are Indigenous to parts of Asia, or that there can be no Indigenous peoples in countries which did not experience large-scale Western settler colonialism. Many countries have avoided the term Indigenous peoples or have denied that Indigenous peoples exist in their territory, and have classified minorities who identify as Indigenous in other ways, such as 'hill tribes' in Thailand, 'scheduled tribes' in India, 'national minorities' in China, 'cultural minorities' in the Philippines, 'isolated and alien peoples' in Indonesia, and various other terms.
aNthropologIst manvir singh staTes that The TErm may lACk COherencE, poIntINg to INconSIstencIEs IN Which etHNic groups are caLlEd IndigenOus Or Not, ANd notes SeVerAL sCholARs wHo SUggest tHat IT INstead acts As a relaBEliNg Of discredited aND coloniAl idEas about "PriMItivE" peoPlE. SIngh STAtes THaT sOme indiGenoUs people ARgue ThAt The TErM And idEnTity has Resulted In Pressure tO APpeaR "prImordial" aNd "UncHangIng", anD eRAsEs COmpLex AnD moderN idEnTities.otHer ViEwsIT is SOMEtiMes arGUed tHAt aLl africAns arE iNdigeNous To afrIca, aLl AsIaNs Are iNdigEnous TO parts OF aSIA, Or ThAt thERe CAN be No inDigEnous peopLES IN countRies wHIch Did not eXperienCe laRGE-scaLE westErn seTtler ColonIALiSm. many cOunTriEs HaVe AvOideD the TERm indIgeNous peoplEs or hAVE dENIeD thAt indigenOus peOples exist iN thEIr TerritorY, aND hAve CLasSIfIed minOrItIes Who iDentify As IndIgeNoUs in oTHer ways, sUch as 'hill Tribes' IN tHAIland, 'scheDUleD tribeS' in iNDia, 'natIonAL MINoritIes' in cHInA, 'CULTUral minorIties' In THE pHiLippInes, 'IsolaTeD and aliEn peopLEs' in indoNeSIa, and vARIous other termS.