When: August 9, 2010 2-5pm

Where: UN Headquarters, New York, Conference Room 1 (North Lawn Building)

The theme of the observance at UN Headquarters will be celebrating indigenous film making. The event is organized by the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in cooperation with the NGO Committee on the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, of which Tribal Link is an executive member.

Those who wish to attend the observance should register by Thursday 6 August, by sending an email with full name at: indigenous_un@un.org. Please note that those who have not registered will not get a day pass, and will thus not be able to attend.

Holders of valid UN grounds passes do not need to register.

The event will begin at 2 pm. Participants must enter the UN grounds through the Visitor’s Entrance on 1st. Avenue facing 45th Street. After going through the entrance, participants should go directly to the table where SPFII staff will hand out day passes to those who have registered. Day passes will be available at the table from 1 pm until 2:15 pm. It is essential that participants bring photo ID when picking up their day passes.

Program:

Monday, 9 August, 2.00-5.00p.m.
ECOSOC Chamber, UN Headquarters

Welcome by Master of Ceremonies Roberto Múcaro Borrero (Taíno, Puerto Rico)

Traditional welcome by Mr. Kevin Tarrent (Ho Chunk)

Message from Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon

Message by Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Sha Zukang

Message from the Chairperson of the United Nations Permanent Forum on        Indigenous Issues, Mr. Carlos Mamani

Screening of four short films by indigenous filmmakers followed by Q&A with directors Per-Josef Idvuoma, Alex Zacarias and Andrew Okpeaha MacLean moderated by Reaghan Tarbell from the National Museum of the American Indian

Marangmotxingo Mïrang/From the Ikpeng Children to the World Directed  by Kumaré Txicão (Ikpeng), Karané Txicão (Ikpeng), and Natuyu Yuwipo Txicão (Ikpeng)

Curte-Nillas:(short) movie Directed  by Mr. Per-Josef Idivuoma (Sámi

Taino Indians counted out of existence Directed by Mr. Alex Zacarias (Taíno)

Sikumi (On the ice) Directed  by Mr. Andrew Okpeaha MacLean (Inupiaq)

MESSAGE from the SECRETARY GENERAL on the INTERNATIONAL DAY OF the WORLDS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

New York, 9 August 2010

The world’s indigenous peoples have preserved a vast amount of humanity’s cultural history. Indigenous peoples speak a majority of the world’s languages, and have inherited and passed on a wealth of knowledge, artistic forms and religious and cultural traditions. On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we reaffirm our commitment to their wellbeing.

The landmark United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly in 2007, lays out a framework for governments to use in strengthening relationships with indigenous peoples and protecting their human rights. Since then, we have seen more governments working to redress social and economic injustices, through legislation and other means, and indigenous peoples’ issues have become more prominent on the international agenda than ever before.

But we must do even more. Indigenous peoples still experience racism, poor health and disproportionate poverty. In many societies, their languages, religions and cultural traditions are stigmatised and shunned. The first-ever UN report on the State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples in January 2010 set out some alarming statistics. In some countries, indigenous peoples are 600 times more likely to contract tuberculosis than the general population. In others, an indigenous child can expect to die twenty years before his or her non-indigenous compatriots.

The theme of this year’s Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is indigenous filmmakers, who give us windows into their communities, cultures and history. Their work connects us to belief systems and philosophies; it captures both the daily life and the spirit of indigenous communities.   As we celebrate these contributions, I call on Governments and civil society to fulfil their commitment to advancing the status of indigenous peoples everywhere.