International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

In 1994, the General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples shall be observed on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (Resolution 49/214 of 23 December). The date marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

The UN General Assembly had proclaimed 1993 the International Year of the World's Indigenous Peoples, and the same year, the Assembly proclaimed the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, starting on 10 December 1994 (Resolution 48/163). The goal of the First Decade was to strengthen international cooperation for solving problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, the environment, development, education and health.

In 2004, the UN General Assembly proclaimed a Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples through Resolution 59/174. The goal of the Second Decade is to further the "strengthening of international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment, and social and economic development, by means of action-oriented programs and specific projects, increase technical assistance, and relevant standard-setting activities".

9 August 2011

Theme: "Indigenous designs: celebrating stories and cultures, crafting our own future."

The 17th commemoration of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples will be held on Tuesday, 9 August 2011 at the UN Headquarters in New York.  The event is organized by the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues DSPD/DESA, the United Nations Department of Public Information, and the NGO Committee on the Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

There will be statements delivered by the Secretary-General, the President of the 65th session of the General Assembly, The Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Chairperson of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and others.

A panel discussion entitled: “Indigenous designs: celebrating stories and cultures, crafting our own future" and a screening of the film “Harmony of Culture and Nature” will take place from 2:30pm to 6pm. at the ECOSOC Chamber of the North Lawn Building (NLB).

Those who wish to attend the panel discussion but do not hold UN grounds passes must confirm their participation by sending an email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by noon of
4 August 2011 indicating your name, affiliation and contact information. After successfully registering, participants should pick up their passes at the UN Visitors' Lobby from 1:15pm until 2:30pm on 9 August.  It is essential that participants bring government/state-issued photo ID when picking up their day passes.

This commemoration is an afternoon event and the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues will not issue any invitation letters for participation.

Representatives of Member States, UN Agencies, indigenous peoples, other non-governmental organizations and the media are invited to attend.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
9 August 2011*

2:30pm – 6:00pm, ECOSOC Chamber, UNHQ

Draft Programme of Activities

(2:30pm) Screening of “Craft Kalimantan - Harmony of culture and nature” by Crafts Kalimantan

*********

(3:05pm) Welcome and Introduction by the Chief of the Secretariat of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues,Chandra Roy-Henriksen

Message of the Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon

Message of the President of the 65th Session of the General Assembly, H.E. Joseph Deiss

Message of the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Coordinator of the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Sha Zukang

Message of the Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues,
Mirna Cunningham (Miskita, Nicaragua)

*********

(3:30pm) INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE

“Indigenous designs: celebrating stories and cultures, crafting our own future”

Panelists:

Roberto Borrero (Taino, Puerto Rico) Chairperson, NGO Committee on the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
Rama Rao, Senior Counsellor, World Intellectual Property Organization
Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne/Hodulgee Muscogee, US) expert in American Indian federal laws
Sangini Rana, Indigenous leader from Nepal

Discussants:

Video message by Patricia Velasquez (Wayuu, Venezuela) followed by Lulu Betancur from Wayuu Taya Foundation (Venezuela & Colombia)

Murielle Borst Tarrant, American Indian Law Alliance

Jennifer Gootman, Executive Director, Global Goods Partners

Loretta Sarah Todd (Cree, Metis), Indigenous film-maker

Renee Bowers, International Fair Trade Movement

Moderated by:

Mirna Cunningham (Miskita, Nicaragua), Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum
on Indigenous Issues

Organized by the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues DSPD/DESA, the United Nations Department of Public Information and the NGO Committee on the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

(Programme subject to change)

*The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is officially commemorated on 9 August annually in recognition of the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations in Geneva in 1982.

Source: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/news_internationalday2011.html

Comments

Name *
Email (For verification & Replies)
URL
Code   

Submit Comment