At the opposite pole from those peoples who participate in some or several spheres of non-indigenous society are the indigenous peoples in a situation of isolation and initial contact. These are peoples who were not colonized and who have no permanent relations with the prevailing national societies of today. Several studies and reports indicate that these peoples have decided to stay away from non-indigenous relations because of the harmful effects unleashed by colonial situations. In the Pan-Amazon, these peoples are found in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia.

The advance of development projects such as highways, mining and hydroelectric dams, in addition to illegal activities such as fishing, drug trafficking and mining, are imminent threats to the physical, cultural and territorial integrity of these peoples. Therefore, immediate actions must be taken by the State in order to protect them while respecting their autonomy. The legal recognition of their traditional territories, as well as the guarantee of the inalienability, inviolability, and indivisibility of these spaces is essential for the destiny of these peoples.

In addition to territorial threats, these people are more vulnerable to infectious diseases when in contact with foreigners, because they have no immunological memory for the etiological agents common in the majority society. This is due to their own physical isolation and because they have never received active immunization through vaccines. Historically, Epidemics – mainly influenza, measles, chickenpox, malaria, and tuberculosis – are associated with high mortality among indigenous people after “contact” with other populations or government agents.