International law customary adoption: child vs rights of indigenous peoples

Customary adoption of aboriginal children raises today the question related to its legal recognition, which is claimed by aboriginal peoples. Would international law be in favour of such recognition ? An analysis of the rights of indigenous peoples and the rights of the child protected by international instruments shows that not only is there no attention to this subject, but also that answers lead to confusion. The position of international bodies reinforces the idea of an enduring divide between individual and collective rights. It also suggests that the response provided by international law could be that of a conditional recognition of customary adoption. The author recommends more dialogue between child rights advocates and indigenous groups within international fora.