According to Costa Rica’s 1977 Indigenous Law, the Indigenous Territories are the traditional lands of the legally recognized indigenous peoples of Costa Rica.[1] The Republic of Costa Rica recognizes eight native ethnicities; Bribris, Chorotegas, Malekus, Ngöbe, Huetars, Cabecars, Borucas and Terrabas.[2]
The Law also provides the territories of self-government and autonomy according to the traditional organization of the tribes, yet this is hardly applied.[1] According to the Law all non-indigenous residents with properties in the areas acquired before the promulgation of the Law should be relocated and/or indemnified, and all posterior acquisition of lands is illegal and should be expropriated with no compensation,[1] but this hasn’t been endorsed by Costa Rica’s government.[1] Tension between indigenous and white residents of the areas of Salitre and Cabagra has become violent to the point of mutual aggressions.[3]
Currently there are 24 officially recognized indigenous territories: