Indigenous people constitute an important section of society in many countries. Despite being a numerically smaller section, they are culturally diverse and distributed mostly in valuable natural resources-rich regions worldwide. In the era of globalization, industrialization, and trade liberalization, indigenous communities have become more vulnerable to displacement, land alienation, cultural erosion, and social exclusion. During the last few decades, researchers have tried to evaluate and document their problems and prospects. The present study analyzes the trends and characteristics of research and development conducted about indigenous communities. The research hotspots based on keywords, productive researchers, and journals during 1979–2020 were mapped using the Scopus database. The analysis was carried out using the bibliometrix R-package and VOSviewer software tool. Consistent growth in the number of studies and citations on indigenous communities concerning environmental conservation, natural resources, and economic development was observed during the last four decades. The present findings reveal that research on the indigenous community has attracted the attention of the scientific community in recent years. Qualitative studies with methodological rigor, having potential for social and policy implications, are warranted to understand and respect ingrained cultural and socio-economic diversity among these communities.

在许多国家，土著人民是社会的重要组成部分。尽管部分面积较小，但它们在文化上各不相同，并且大多分布在全球宝贵的自然资源丰富的地区。在全球化，工业化和贸易自由化的时代，土著社区变得更加容易受到流离失所，土地异化，文化侵蚀和社会排斥的影响。在过去的几十年中，研究人员试图评估并记录他们的问题和前景。本研究分析了有关土著社区的研究发展趋势和特点。使用Scopus数据库绘制了基于关键字，生产性研究人员和期刊的研究热点（1979-2020年）。使用bibliometrix R-package和VOSviewer软件工具进行了分析。在过去的四十年中，对土著社区的有关环境保护，自然资源和经济发展的研究和引用数量一直在持续增长。目前的发现表明，对土著社区的研究近年来引起了科学界的关注。严格的方法学定性研究具有潜在的社会和政策意义，因此必须了解并尊重这些社区根深蒂固的文化和社会经济多样性。在过去的40年中，经济得到了发展。目前的发现表明，对土著社区的研究近年来引起了科学界的关注。严格的方法学定性研究具有潜在的社会和政策意义，因此必须了解并尊重这些社区根深蒂固的文化和社会经济多样性。在过去的40年中，经济得到了发展。目前的发现表明，对土著社区的研究近年来引起了科学界的关注。严格的方法学定性研究具有潜在的社会和政策意义，因此必须了解并尊重这些社区根深蒂固的文化和社会经济多样性。