The United Nations annually recognises August 9 as the International Day of Indigenous People. This observance aims to draw attention to the unique needs, challenges, and contributions of indigenous people globally. The inaugural meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations took place in 1982 in Geneva. The focus for 2019 is on indigenous people’s languages, coinciding with the designation of 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages.
International Day of Indigenous Peoples in India: The Leather Mission
In India, the Khadi and Village Industry Commission (KVIC) introduced the ‘Leather Mission’ on the International Day of Indigenous Peoples. The initiative involved the distribution of 50 leather kits and 350 Bee-Boxes accompanied by live bee colonies. These were delivered to a tribal-majority village located in the Sirohi district of Rajasthan. Recognised by the NITI Aayog as an aspirational district, this initiative primarily aims to empower the indigenous population through sustainable and indigenous business opportunities.
Who are Indigenous People?
Indigenous people possess and practice unique cultures and have their distinctive ways of interaction with people and the environment. They maintain distinct social, cultural, economic and political traits, differentiating them from the dominant societies in which they live. Despite these variances, indigenous people globally face similar challenges pertaining to the protection of their rights.
According to the United Nations data, despite making up less than 5 percent of the global population, indigenous people represent 15 percent of the poorest. They represent around 5,000 distinct cultures, making their contribution to the world’s diversity significant.
The Importance of Indigenous Languages
Languages underpin human rights protection, peacebuilding, and sustainable development by fostering cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. Although languages play a pivotal role in daily life, they are increasingly becoming endangered due to numerous factors. Indigenous languages are particularly at risk.
Indigenous languages contribute not only to education, scientific and technological development but also to the preservation of the biosphere and environment, freedom of expression, employment and social inclusion. The threat to these languages poses an imminent danger to the continuation of these unique cultures and practices.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of Indigenous People | Less than 5% of global population |
| Poverty among Indigenous People | 15% of the poorest globally |
| Diversity of Indigenous Cultures | Represents 5,000 different cultures |
International Year of Indigenous Languages
The United Nations declared 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages. The aim of this declaration is to raise global awareness of the threats indigenous languages face and to link language with developmental aspects like peace and reconciliation.
Source: TH, UN