What is the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples?

The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is observed every year on 9 August. The United Nations General Assembly created it in December 1994. The date marks the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations. It raises awareness of indigenous peoples' rights and contributions.

The Working Group on Indigenous Populations first met in Geneva in August 1982. It was the first UN body devoted to indigenous peoples, and its work led in time to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007.

Each year the United Nations chooses a theme for the day, such as indigenous languages, youth, women's role in passing on knowledge, or the rights of peoples in voluntary isolation. Events are held at UN headquarters and around the world.

Communities mark the day with gatherings, marches, cultural programmes and public discussions. In India it is widely celebrated as World Tribal Day or Vishwa Adivasi Divas, and some states observe it as a public holiday. Schools and museums often hold talks and exhibitions.

The day is separate from national observances such as Indigenous Peoples' Day in parts of the United States in October, National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada on 21 June, and Janjatiya Gaurav Divas in India on 15 November, the birth anniversary of the Munda leader Birsa Munda.

Words used here

Sources

• United Nations: International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoplesun.org
• United Nations: Indigenous Peoplesun.org

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