What is International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples?

It’s a day to celebrate, promote and protect the rights of Indigenous People’s around the world. August 9 was chosen as it was on that day in 1982 a United Nations Working Group first met to discuss the situation of Indigenous Peoples. In keeping with UNESCO’s declaration that 2019 is the International Year of Indigenous Languages, the theme for this year’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is… Indigenous Languages!

I wasn’t even aware of this special day until I received an email this morning from Cultural Survival.

Cultural Survival was established in 1972. It is a non-profit group based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, and is dedicated to defending the human rights of indigenous peoples. Cultural Survival works toward a future that respects and honours Indigenous Peoples’ inherent rights and dynamic cultures.

They’ve put together a list of 7 suggestions for people around the world to better understand and support International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

1. Learn about the International Year of Indigenous Languages.

2. Listen to their Latest Indigenous Rights Radio Programs.

3. Read their latest edition of the Cultural Survival Quarterly, devoted to Indigenous women’s leadership.

4. Learn more about their grassroots partners. E.g. Meet the 2019 Indigenous Community Media Youth Fellows, from Nicaragua, Guatemala, Colombia, and Ecuador.

5. Learn about Indigenous Peoples and SDGs. Indigenous Peoples and their traditional knowledge and practices are essential to reaching the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

6. Learn more about the important role of  community radio in Indigenous communities around the world.

7. Visit the UN’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples website. On Twitter, follow #WeAreIndigenous and @UN4Indigenous for news and updates throughout the day.

For more info head over to the Cultural Survival website or click here for more on the ideas specific to today’s observances.

Happy Friday!!

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