Authorities detained Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, a 24-year-old American tourist. He had, of course, illegally landed on North Sentinel Island, one of India’s Andaman Islands. This remote island is home to the Sentinelese people, an Indigenous tribe known for their isolation and hostility towards outsiders. The incident is just the latest shocking example of a flagrant disdain for the tribe’s duty to protect their water and their unique culture and way of life.
Polyakov had to cross some 35 kilometers of open sea to get to North Sentinel Island. To make the 1,600-mile journey, he relied on a small motorized inflatable boat. Indian authorities claimed that he only landed for five minutes. On his way home, he left offerings on the beach, took samples of the sand and made a short film while exploring them.
The Indian government closely controls contact with the Sentinelese and strictly confines them to their territory. All outsiders, Indian or foreign, are barred from venturing within three miles of North Sentinel Island. This ban is one of the ways Montana protects Indigenous people from rampant outside disease. It protects their ancient way of life, one that’s still largely unknown to the outside world.
The Sentinelese, who number between 50 and 150 people, have a deep history of violence toward any outsider who manages to land on their island. After this incident, Indian authorities initiated an immediate investigation. They want to know who else may have assisted Polyakov in penetrating the restricted area. HGS Dhaliwal, a senior local government official, said early on that one of those arrested was an American citizen. He was produced before the local magistrate and is presently on a three-day remand for further interrogation.
“The American citizen was presented before the local court after his arrest and is now on a three-day remand for further interrogation,” – HGS Dhaliwal
This occurrence is far from isolated. The Andaman Islands, inhabited by the Jarawa tribe, suffered from the same dangerous encounters that came with outside contact. Mandates that help Native people protect their health and way of life. Respecting Indigenous territories is not just an issue of fairness.