International Day of the World’s Indigenous People- 9th August
By Teboho Mosebo /GICJ
Indigenous Peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences, Indigenous Peoples from around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples.
Indigenous Peoples have sought recognition of their identities, 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 recognises that special measures are required to protect their rights and maintain their distinct cultures and way of life [1].
In 1994, the General Assembly designated the 9th of August as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. The date marks the day of the first meeting, in 1992, of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights [2]. This year's theme will focus on Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination [3].
The right to self-determination holds a significant position in international human rights law and is seen as fundamental in major human rights covenants, including the United Nations Charter. The meaningful engagement of Indigenous youth in the following areas is crucial to exercising the right to self-determination and ensuring a better future for all.
Climate action and the green transition
Indigenous youth in their communities play differentiated roles and functions, from which they derive certain rights, responsibilities, abilities and social recognition. Their roles and functions can change according to their cosmovision and Indigenous languages. For example, from an early age Indigenous youth are taught different activities such as house chores, sowing, agriculture and others by their parents and the community. Therefore, Indigenous youth have an intimate relationship with the land and biodiversity.
Significantly, social, cultural, economic and political factors have changed the living conditions of Indigenous youth. These changes include the imposition of education systems that are not culturally appropriate and do not include or value the cultural reality of Indigenous knowledge, the misuse of new technologies that harm ways of life, and the expansion of extractive and resource exploitation companies that undermine Indigenous Peoples’ values and societies. However, Indigenous youth have been changing this reality and becoming key players in the global climate action movement. As the next generation, Indigenous People’s unique alternative solutions to climate change and issues related to the green transition, especially where the development of many green technologies, such as mineral resources and hydroelectric dams, are harming Indigenous Peoples’ lands, territories, resources and rights. The issues raised by Indigenous youth in the climate debate can offer important insights into climate action and sustainable resource management, and they must be offered a seat at all levels of decision-making.
Mobilising for Justice
Discrimination negatively affects Indigenous youth’s lives as it leads to them losing their identity, language, and spiritual richness and rejecting their own roots. A high proportion of Indigenous youth today face many cultural challenges and influences which eventually force them to adapt to unfamiliar teachings they are not comfortable with, in order to feel accommodated and avoid racism and discrimination. In some cases, entire generations of Indigenous youth have grown out of their communities but have retained a connection to their lands and territories through their families or Indigenous Peoples’ organisations.
However, Indigenous youth still continue to promote their culture in many areas, both domestically and internationally, despite the obstacles they encounter. For example, they network with other Indigenous youth, engage with Indigenous elders and partake in assemblies in order to reinforce cultural uniqueness. The new generation of Indigenous advocates is mobilising to shift the narrative around Indigenous Peoples. They make use of social media to promote and celebrate their cultural practices to a large number of people. Through their voices, they are sharing their stories and building solidarity among other people, in turn raising awareness of issues that affect them, both at home and abroad.
Intergenerational connections
Identity is fundamental to Indigenous youths. Individual and collective identity is attached to the land, language, traditional livelihoods, ceremonies, arts, crafts, family members and society as a whole. Identity is transferred through family ties: the transmission of the history of the land and the transfer of knowledge. Consequently, it is important to have an intergenerational dialogue between youth and elders, because youth represent continuity along the path already walked by their ancestors.
Indigenous elders play a vital role in the culture, cosmovision and values of Indigenous youth. Indigenous elders teach Indigenous youth the importance of family, community, nature and their responsibilities within these structures. Therefore, the connection between the generations is a crucial aspect of Indigenous Peoples’ well-being, as it facilitates the transfer of knowledge and fosters strong bonds between generations. As the future custodians of the planet, Indigenous youth have a wealth of resources and expertise right at their fingerprints, simply by connecting with the teachings of their elders, who also have learned through their ancestors.
Finally, there is a need to strengthen intergenerational dialogue as well as the dialogue between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Peoples, so that future relationships will be positive for many generations to come [4].
Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) urges the international community and state governments to acknowledge and recognise the value of indigenous youth’s traditional knowledge and cultures. We emphasise the importance of safeguarding and preserving indigenous livelihoods and their unique ontologies. Most importantly, GICJ implores all nations to give equal importance to traditional knowledge and scientific knowledge even though the latter is held in higher esteem in the Western school of thought. We stand alongside indigenous youth human rights defenders and applaud their large-scale mobilisation and advocacy movements. GICJ demands state governments hold perpetrators of rights abuses accountable for their actions and immediately halt all forms of illegal extractions of natural resources in indigenous territory. Indigenous youth continue to lack recognition as agents of change for self-determination and in the fight against climate change. We recognise their unique contributions and value their livelihoods, communal living and sustainable practices safeguarding habitat and ecosystem destruction.
References
[1] https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/about-us.htn
[4] https://social.desa.un.org/sites/default/files/Concept%20Note%20IntI%20Day%20..
Image source
(Pexels) https://www.pexels.com/search/videos/groups%20ofyouth%20inn$20culture/
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous, Human Rights Defenders, Youth Leaders, Indigenous Youth, Agents of Change, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Traditional Knowledge, Geneva, geneva4justice, Geneva International Centre for Justice
