Hi List, I thought you'd be interested in this~ Turtle ~ International Day of World's Indigenous Peoples FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sponsored by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in cooperation with the United Childrenís Fund, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, the Department of Public Information and the NGO Committee on the International Decade of the Worldís Indigenous People. 6th Annual Commemoration of the INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE WORLD'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES Wednesday, August 9 and Thursday, August 10, 2000 at United Nations Hqrs Free and Open to the Public (Registration required for 8/9 dialogue & 8/10 workshop) Contact: UN OHCHR Tel: 212-963-5931, Fax:212-963-4097 before July 20 AUGUST 9 11 am United Nations Press Conference (Covering media must submit request for U.N. access on letterhead to U.N. Accreditation Office (fax: (212) 963-4642) call 963-5934 / 7164 to verify receipt of fax, once request is verified, pass must be obtained at 45th & 1st Avenue, UNITAR building, Pass & Identification Unit (two forms of photo ID required)). 11:30 am - 1 pm Opening Ceremony At UN Visitorsí Entrance Plaza (free access) - First Avenue at 45th Street, Manhattan The commemoration will commence at 11:30 am with a traditional drum welcome and with opening statements read on behalf of Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Mrs. Mary Robinson, High Commissioner for Human Rights. At noon, a traditional Sacred Pipe Ceremony will be carried out by Dr. Arvol Looking Horse (Lakota), followed by the welcome of the Spirit Run and a ceremonial blessing for children by Elder Eufemeia Cholac Chicol (Maya) from Guatemala, followed by various other ceremonial and musical presentations until 1 pm. 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm Dialogue A dialogue will be held in Conference Room 1 (basement level, United Nations General Assembly Building). Indigenous and United Nations panelists will make short statements initiating a dialogue under the theme of "Indigenous Children and Youth". This theme has been selected by the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations to be this year's focus. SPEAKERS: Mr. Olara Otunnu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflicts Mr. Evans Dwayne Eagle Child, Kainaiwa Nation from Canada A Guatemalan youth (to be confirmed) A representative from UNICEF AUGUST 10 10 am - 1 pm & 3 pm - 6 pm - The day will be a consultation on the preparations for the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, aiming at the formulation of suggestions on issues of concern to Indigenous peoples within the context of the draft agenda of the World Conference. PLENARY CHAIR: Ms. Esmeralda Brown, Chair, NGO Committee on International Decade of Worldís Indigenous Peoples SPEAKERS: Mr. Bacre W. Ndiaye, Director, NY Office, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Mr. Alberto Saldamando, International Indian Treaty Council FACILITATORS: Ms. Tonya Gonella Frishner, American Indian Law Alliance Mr. Alberto Saldamando, International Indian Treaty Council Mr. Wilton Littlechild from Canada A representative of ILO BACKGROUND August 9, the International Day of the Worldís Indigenous People, was approved in 1994 by the UN General Assembly to be observed annually. It is the anniversary of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations which took place in 1982. Its commemoration is celebrated in Geneva and worldwide. In New York City, it has become a two-day event at United Nations Headquarters. Besides the World Sacred Pipe Ceremony for Peace, the panel discussion will focus on "Indigenous Children and Youth" theme for the current year of the International Decade of the Worldís Indigenous People (1995-2004). Past yearsí themes were "Land and Natural Resources", "Health", "Education and Language", "Relationship to the land"... CONTACT: United Nations Dept of Public Information: Ellen McGuffie Tel: 212-963-0499 - or Marie Samuel, Yachay Wasi (NGO/DPI), NGO Committee on the United Nations International Decade of the Worldís Indigenous Peoples - Tel: 212-567-6447, 212-460-2054 FAX: 212-477-5574 e-mail: [email protected]