Stateless Indigenous People(s) 107 States and for instance local power structures would have to be understood first, before solutions could be worked out. From this explorative article it becomes clear that many stateless people do not seem to have the ‘luxury’ to (re-)create and cultivate their own nationality, including a passport. Despite the fact that some indigenous people do have their own passports, often they can do little more than wait and hope for a change in national legislation and procedures, for effectively functioning national bureaucracies, and often for just some benevolence of the governments of the States within which they live.38 This especially relates to issues such as birth registration, being the basis for and stepping stone to many other rights. Without such legal recognition it regularly becomes impossible for them to enjoy a wide range of other practical (human) rights, like ownership over their lands, access to school systems, jobs, social security, medical care, and sometimes, formal nationality rights. The phenomenon of the indigenous passports also shows that indigenous people(s) sometimes want formal and visible recognition of their special indigenous status, even if, as is regularly the case, they do not plea for an independent State. Such passports have a practical meaning if accepted as travel documents, but furthermore they are an important manifestation of the distinct cultural identities of indigenous peoples. Both claims ̶ to be treated equally to other citizens and to be recognized as distinct people(s) ̶ are backed up by international law. Strong international legal standards might not only be useful for ‘waking up’ and steering States, but can also constitute a source of confidence and hope for people(s) struggling for fundamental rights, like, in this case, the right to own a nationality and the right to a nationality of their own. 38 Cindy L Hodler and Jeff J Corntassel, ‘Indigenous Peoples and Multicultural Citizenship: Bridging Collective and Individual Rights’ (2002) 24 Human Rights Quarterly 141. tilburg law review 19 (2014) 98-107