In commemoration of the International Day of the World's Indigenous People, an observance, focusing on the urgent need to preserve indigenous cultures and languages, as well as on the role of indigenous youth, was held at United Nations Headquarters on 9 August 2007.
"Today indigenous people have a home at the United Nations", said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a message read by Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro at the opening of the celebration. "But today is also a time to remember those indigenous people who continue to suffer discrimination, marginalization, extreme poverty and conflict; who face dispossession of their traditional lands and livelihoods, displacement, destruction of their belief systems, culture, language and way of life, and even the threat of extinction", Mr. Ban added.

In relation to the promotion of international standards and human rights, a number of official statements on the International Day made direct reference to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the UN Human Rights Council on 29 June 2006. The Declaration, divided into nine sections with a preamble and 45 articles, recognizes the wide range of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples. Among these are the right to unrestricted self-determination, an inalienable collective right to ownership, use and control of lands, territories and other natural resources, the rights of maintaining and developing their own political, religious, cultural and educational institutions, along with the protection of their cultural and intellectual property. The Declaration is currently being considered for adoption by the General Assembly, which would be a major step towards eliminating the widespread human rights violations suffered by over 370 million indigenous people worldwide.

Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Chairperson of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNFPII), strongly urged Member States to adopt the Declaration before the sixty-first General Assembly session ends on 17 September 2007. The Declaration was the "result of more than three decades of indigenous peoples' engagement with the United Nations", she said, adding that it is a "moral imperative" for States to adopt it, to "seriously address more than 500 years of injustice and oppression suffered by indigenous peoples".

Echoing Ms. Tauli-Corpuz comments, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour noted that the Day is a "celebration of humankind's diversity and richness" and "it needs also to serve as a reminder of the continuing exclusion indigenous peoples face". In a joint statement issued with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Rodolfo Stavenhagen, Ms. Arbour pointed out: "As we stand at the brink of this historic decision by the General Assembly, it is the time to call upon Member States of the United Nations to join as one and adopt the Declaration, and thereby establish a universal framework for indigenous peoples' rights, social justice and reconciliation."

Sha Zukang, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said in his statement that "indigenous peoples continue to suffer disproportionately from extreme poverty, marginalization, poor health and poor access to education. They are more likely to live in poverty than non-indigenous peoples living in the same country." Commenting on the Day as an occasion "to celebrate, to remember, to support and to strengthen partnerships with indigenous peoples everywhere", Mr. Sha, who also acts as the Coordinator of the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, said that he would continue the effort within the UN system to mainstream and integrate indigenous issues at the country level. He also noted the valuable contribution indigenous peoples could make in tackling climate change, stating that they live in many of the world's most biologically diverse areas. "With their knowledge about their environment, indigenous peoples can and should play a role in the global effort to respond to climate change." He also emphasized: "We should listen to them."

One of the hightlights of the Day's events was a panel discussion, entitled "Honouring Indigenous Youth and Languages". Elsa Stamatopoulou, who has served for 21 years on the UN Commission for Human Rights and current Chief of UNFPII Secretariat, said: "Indigenous peoples, through historical processes, have been denied their right to control their own developments." She added that UNFPII is deeply concerned that particular problems and discrimination are faced by indigenous peoples, especially by women, children and youth.

A Heiltsuk girl holding one of the paddles of the Glwa UN Photo John Isaac

Youth and languages are the main focus of the panel discussion. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), approximately 600 languages have disappeared in the last century and they continue to disappear at a rate of one every two weeks. Currently, half of the world's languages are in danger of extinction, more than 90 per cent of which are likely to disappear before the end of this century. The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the Human Rights Council in June 2006, also recognizes the importance of the indigenous languages, stating that "indigenous peoples have the right to revitalize, use, develop and transmit to future generation their … languages".

Ms. Stamatopoulou noted that "370,000 indigenous people in more than 70 countries around world represent about 5,000 cultures. They are the speakers of three quarters of the world's languages-roughly 4,000 languages are spoken by indigenous peoples, the vast majority of which are living in developing countries today." Fewer and fewer languages are being learned by the younger indigenous generations in the traditional way from their parents and elders. "Indigenous youth are central to the safeguarding of knowledge linked to their cultural and natural heritage; they are bearers and transmitters of their cultures", Ms. Stamatopoulou added.

In addressing the themes of peace and unity and highlighting community concerns, a group of over 50 indigenous youth from the "Spirit of the Youth: Unity Run" made an overnight journey by foot from upstate New York to the United Nations Headquarters to deliver historic declarations. The Unity Run representatives delivered their declarations: "We demand our voice be recognized and respected as equals." Melissa Elliot, a 17 year-old youth leader and one of the Unity runners, said at the panel discussion: "We want people to hear our voice and our issues-
we wanted you to open your heart and ears. Don't just see us as youth, look at us as people as well." These young people also expressed their full support for the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Panellist Les Malezer, Chairperson of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus and coordinator of the lobby on the Declaration, said: "Consensus is always the way we try to work. Indigenous peoples always listen to each other, respect each other and work in a common way together, even though we come from different cultural backgrounds."