The purpose of this paper is to present a brief summary of the issues and current situations facing ethnic and indigenous communities around the world that are using a customary rights framework to manage their land and natural resources. By outlining these experiences, ethnic groups in Burma will be able to better understand their own context and possibilities as they struggle to gain control over their lands during this transitional time. While examining how other countries have incorporated customary land management structures into their rule of law, it is hoped that the ethnic groups in Burma can more effectively discuss, debate and outline their own strategies to obtain just and participatory land management systems.