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New York City, New York - On August 9, the International Day of the World’s 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 World’s Indigenous People (1995-2004). Past years’ themes were "Land and Natural Resources", "Health", "Education and Language", "Relationship to the land"...

The event is sponsored by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in cooperation with the United Children’s 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 World’s Indigenous People.

6th Annual Commemoration of the
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

Wednesday, August 9 and Thursday, August 10, 2000 at United Nations Headquarters, 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
11:00 a.m. United Nations Press Conference
Speakers: Mr. Bacre Ndiaye, Director, OHCHR NY Office
Mr. Alberto Saldamando, International Indian Treaty Council
Mr. Rene Godinez Garcia, Movimiento de Jovenes Mayas por la
Objecion de Consciencia, Guatemala
A representative from UNICEF

11:30 a.m. - 1:oo p.m. Opening Ceremony
At UN Visitors’ 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 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. 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 Alberta, Canada
Mr. René Godinez Garcia, Movimiento de Jovenes
Mayas por la Objeción de Consciencia, Guatemala Mr. Bacre W. Ndiaye, Director, OHCHR NY Office
A representative from UNICEF

AUGUST 10
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - 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 World’s Indigenous Peoples
SPEAKERS: Ms. Elsa Stamatopoulou, Deputy Director, OHCHR NY Office
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, International Organization of Indigenous Resources Development, Canada
A representative of ILO