Indigenous peoples’ lives matter

topic:	Indigenous people
located:	Kenya, Guatemala, Australia
editor:	Bob Koigi

Despite being the custodians of 80 percent of the world’s biodiversity and holders of a cocktail of unique traditions, cultures, knowledge systems and languages, the over 476 million indigenous people globally have faced systemic discrimination, violation of their rights, plunder of their natural resources and invasion of their territories.

From The Aborigines in Australia, Mayas in Guatemala, Maasais in Kenya and the Tuareg in Mali, indigenous peoples remain among the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, and their life’s expectancy is 20 years lower than that of their non-indigenous counterparts. Although constituting about 5 percent of the world’s population, they make up 15 percent of its extreme poverty.

Yet, even with such adversities they have played a pivotal role in understanding and mitigating the devastating impacts of modern day calamities like climate change, providing valuable lessons on how to address food scarcity and protecting the planet. Modern science has borrowed heavily from them.

As we mark the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, the international community should coalesce around the philosophy of championing for a more equitable and sustainable world that embraces inclusive participation, respect for the rights of vulnerable minorities and equal opportunities for all.

To protect the world’s heritage, diversity of languages and natural resources that are increasingly under threat from urbanisation and the climate crisis, we need to prioritise the needs and aspirations of the indigenous people, listen to their concerns, respect their way of life and protect them as envisioned in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Image: Ken kahiri.

Call to Action

Join the fight for indigenous rights and Mother Earth