On Thursday 3 August, a celebration of the International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples was held in Palais des Nations, Geneva


Yozo Yokota, Chairperson of the 24th session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP) joined representatives from the UN Office in Geneva (UNOG) and the OHCHR in opening this lively celebration of the cultural contribution of indigenous peoples to the international community.

The Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG) noted the successful adoption by the HRC of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, stating that in the eleven long years that it took to draft, it has shown how indigenous peoples and States have come together to assure the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples. The 5,000 languages and cultures that indigenous peoples represent, declared the DG, has, despite their diversity, shown a high degree of overlap in their issues and fights for human rights. The strength of international cooperation in resolving problems faced in areas of culture, education, health, human rights and economic issues is further affirmed by the confirmation, on 20 Dec 2004, of a Second Decade of Indigenous Peoples.

Mr. Yokota welcomed the developments in the HRC as mainstreaming human rights. He then reiterated his call that indigenous peoples do not remain as bystanders in deliberations over the future of the WGIP, proclaiming that he wanted to turn the challenge ahead into an opportunity.

A fraternal set of performances followed, bringing together representatives from all corners of the globe in this cultural celebration. A united Russian delegation delighted the crowd gathered with traditional songs and poetry whilst a representative from Ecuador and his Peruvian compañero offered a haunting rendition of El Condor Pasa.

The Maasai performed a jumping dance and chorale song. Enthusiastic participation by groups Hmong, Zo, American Indian nations, and north and west-Africans also gave a real flavour to the event. Meanwhile the Rapa Nui delegation to the WGIP stood out, painted as they were in white, and singing and dancing to the sounds of a konch shell and guitar.

The event was ended by a Round Dance organised by the North American Indian delegations, too large a group to from one circle, participants held hands dancing, in several circles around a central drum.