International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoplesby Kushal Naharki | 10-08-2020 10:36 |
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There are an estimated 476 million indigenous peoples in the world living across 90 countries. They make up less than 5 per cent of the world's population, but account for 15 per cent of the poorest. They speak an overwhelming majority of the world¡¯s estimated 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures.August 9 is the international day of the worlds's Indigenous people. 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. 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. One of the best protected forests/areas in the world are protected by indigenous peoples, whose spiritula, cultural, social, and economic ties are deeply rooted in these lands. It is important than ever to safeguard indigenous people and their knowledge. Their territories are home to 80% of the world's biodiversity and they can teach us much about how to rebalance our relationship with nature. Indigenous peoples have already faced food insecurity as a result of the loss of their traditional lands and territories or even climate change effects. They also confront even graver challenges accessing food. Indigenous peoples¡¯ traditional knowledge is the key to helping not only the world¡¯s indigenous peoples, but all of humanity, adapt and mitigate to climate change. By combining this knowledge with science and technology, by grounding innovation in nature, we have the greatest chance our carbon targets and sdgs. António Guterres, Secretary General United Nations said, "Around the world, indigenous people have been at the forefront in demanding environmental and climate action. Lapsed enforcement of environmental protections during the crisis has brought increasing encroachment on indigenous peoples¡¯ territories by illegal miners and loggers. Reference: https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day https://www.conservation.org/blog/without-traditional-knowledge-there-is-no-climate-change-solution
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