August 9, is celebrated around the world as International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. It is a day to learn about and to draw attention to the 370 million indigenous people living in over 72 countries worldwide. This includes at least 5,000 distinct peoples and cultures that speak more than half of the 7,000 languages in use across the world.
By resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994, the United Nations General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples shall be observed on 9 August every year. The date marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.
The annual event focuses on protecting the rights of the world’s indigenous population and on recognizing the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as biodiversity and environmental protection.
Indigenous peoples have sought recognition of their identities, their way of life and their right to traditional lands, territories and natural resources for years, yet throughout history their rights have always been violated. Indigenous peoples today, are arguably among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of people in the world. The international community now recognizes that special measures are required to protect their rights and maintain their distinct cultures and way of life.
This year’s observance is dedicated to Indigenous Peoples’ Languages in view of 2019 being marked as the International Year of Indigenous Languages.
The large majority of the languages in danger are spoken by indigenous peoples. It is estimated that, every 2 weeks, an indigenous language disappears, placing at risk the respective indigenous cultures and knowledge systems. That is why, on this International Day, the goal is to draw attention to the critical loss of indigenous languages and the urgent need to preserve, revitalize and promote them at both national and international levels.
There are approximately 296 spoken (or formerly spoken) indigenous languages in North America alone (excluding Mexico), 269 of which are grouped into 29 families (the remaining 27 languages are either isolates or unclassified). en.wikipedia.org/…
Note that we also celebrate the National Indigenous Peoples' Day on the 2nd Monday of October.
I cannot do justice to the large body of information about Indigenous Peoples, their rich cultural heritage, their past and present struggles with colonizers and non-indigenous people and their way of life in the modern world. Hopefully, other kossacks with deeper insights and experiences can help improve our knowledge and understanding.
Here are some informative images, videos and tweets that celebrate this special day and take us on a journey to lands, cultures and lives we rarely see or think about.
There are 7,000 languages in the world! Most (more than half) are spoken by indigenous people. How many do you speak? We need to do more to preserve them and spread their use.
One language dies every 2 weeks.
We should all be learning multiple languages -
Here is a start -
Australian Aboriginal languages -
A recurring theme is the role of Indigenous people in biodiversity, sustainable food production and protecting the environment and climate.
The protectors of biodiversity -
Check out this list of traditional, hardy and indigenous crops we know so little about -
Organizations that promote indigenous agriculture,
Food and Environment -
Climate Change
A great learning tool -
Celebrating Indigenous Art -
Science + art in Mesoamerica, 500 B.C. to 100 B.C.
The People at the front-lines of the struggles -
The Role of Women
Canada seems to be more sensitive to the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
They also happen to have a sane and educated President.
Meanwhile, here at home, trump and the GOP are destroying the environment and trampling on indigenous rights.
Here is a link to the session at the UN on Friday -
How are you celebrating this day? Do you have friends and family with indigenous roots? How do their stories, struggles, experiences and resilience inspire you? Please share your thoughts, stories and memories of the vast cultural diversity of our world which many of us rarely experience firsthand.
References
- International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples - www.un.org/…
- Indigenous peoples — en.wikipedia.org/...
- List of indigenous peoples — List of indigenous peoples