International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

The United Nations (UN) International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is a reminder of the global Indigenous community and peoples including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures, sharing common ground related to the protection of Indigenous rights as distinct peoples.  

This year’s focus on International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is on Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact. 

This focus acknowledges the more than 200 Indigenous groups who remain uncontacted and continue to protect and preserve their unique cultures, tradition and languages. 

The date, 9 August, was the first meeting of the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982. This Group drafted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which asserts Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination and was formally adopted in 2007.

Did you know?

There are an estimated 476 million Indigenous Peoples in the world living across 90 countries including Australia. They make up less than 6% of the world’s population, but account for at least 15% of the poorest.  

Globally Indigenous Peoples speak an overwhelming majority of the world’s estimated 7000 languages and represent 5000 different cultures. In Australia there are more than 250 Indigenous languages, including around 800 dialects that connect people to Country, culture and ancestors. www.aiatsis.gov.au

The World’s Indigenous Peoples’ territories encompass 28% of the surface of the globe and contain 11% of the world’s forests. They are guardians of most of the world’s remaining biodiversity.