Media for empowering indigenous voices

10 August, 2012

Like every individual all indigenous person have their rights. They have been living on earth for years and years. It is noteworthy that there are voices of these people reaching international audiences which help us to know more about them.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE are ethnic groups that are defined as "indigenous" according to one of the various definitions of the term, though there is no universally accepted definition. In the late twentieth century, the term began to be used primarily to refer to ethnic groups that have historical ties to groups that existed in a territory prior to colonization or formation of a nation state, and which normally preserve a degree of cultural and political separation from the mainstream culture and political system of the nation state within the border of which the indigenous group is located. The political sense of the term defines these groups as particularly vulnerable to exploitation and oppression by nation states. As a result, a special set of political rights in accordance with international law have been set forth by international organizations such as the United Nations,

There are an estimated 370 million indigenous people in some 70 countries around the world. Practising unique traditions, they retain social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Spread across the world from the Arctic to the Amazon, indigenous peoples reflect the world’s cultural diversity and are the custodians of its biodiversity.

United Nations and many other organizations are focusing on the rights of the indigenous people. One of the important decisions taken was declaring 9th August as international day for indigenous people. By resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994, the United Nations General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World's Indigenous People shall be observed on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. The date marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

The theme for this year’s celebration is "Indigenous Media, Empowering Indigenous Voices". This year’s theme shine a spotlight on indigenous media — television, radio, film and social media — and their role in helping to preserve indigenous cultures, challenge stereotypes and influence the social and political agenda.

“Indigenous voices are recounting compelling stories of how they are combating centuries of injustice and discrimination, and advocating for the resources and rights that will preserve their cultures, languages, spirituality and traditions,” the Secretary-General of UN Ban-Ki –Moon said.

“They offer an alternative perspective on development models that exclude the indigenous experience. They promote the mutual respect and intercultural understanding that is a precondition for a society without poverty and prejudice,” added Ban-Ki-Moon.

Previous Themes

2011 — "Indigenous designs: celebrating stories and cultures, crafting their own future"

2010 — "Celebrating Indigenous Film Making"

2009 — “Indigenous Peoples and HIV/AIDS”

2008 — the observance focused on reconciliation between States and indigenous peoples

2007 — the observance in 2007 centered on the urgent need to preserve indigenous languages

2006 — “Partnership for Action and Dignity”

From community radio and television to feature films and documentaries, from video art and newspapers to the internet and social media, indigenous peoples are using these powerful tools to challenge mainstream narratives, bring human rights violations to international attention and forge global solidarity.

(This article has inputs from a UN Publication)