Indigenous Peoples Issues & Voices at the 8th Session of the UNPFII

Written by Pasang Yangjee Sherpa

Wednesday, 20 May 2009 14:40

New York,(Day 3)- More than 2 thousand Indigenous representatives from several countries are meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York for the Eighth Session (May 18-29) of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) to voice their issues and concerns that impact their cultural survival and livelihood sustenance.

Indigenous representatives at the UNPFII 8th Session. Photos: eEyeCam

Education, representation, indigenous women’s rights and climate change are among the several indigenous peoples-related issues being raised at the meeting.

On the third day of the meeting, recommendations were presented for the Second International Decade for the World Indigenous People (2005-2015) and Human Rights. Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by governments was emphasized as a necessity to recognize indigenous peoples and secure their rights.

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, warned that climate change is “the greatest challenge for the humankind in the 21st century,” and since indigenous peoples are in the frontlines of climate change as the most vulnerable communities, the issue has not escaped discussions in the 8th session of the UNPFII. Due to the reality that indigenous peoples are closely tied to the mother Earth culturally, spiritually and economically, they have been practicing sustainable livelihood practices. Indigenous knowledge of their surroundings is detailed, thus the sharing of this knowledge is considered crucial not only for indigenous peoples but also for the entire global community in mitigating negative impacts of climate change.

Indigenous women’s role in the preservation of indigenous culture and the transfer of indigenous knowledge from one generation to the next was also highlighted by the participants at the meeting.

-Pasang Yangjee Sherpa at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Nepalese delegates L to R: Dr. Sumitra Manadhar Gurung, Bijaya Subba, Jitpal Kirat, Dillibahadur Chaudhary, Pasang Yangjee Sherpa, Mingma Norbu Sherpa and Sangini rana Magar. Photos: eEyeCam